IR-01-23-18325
5 July 2023
James
[FYI request #23120 email]
Tēnā koe James
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 13 June 2023, in which
you sought:
the full definition of a “Disorder incident” as defined, used and accepted by NZ
police.
There is no agreed definition or threshold for the use of the term ‘disorder incident’ for the
purposes of Police media releases.
The reason being is that police operate within an environment where the circumstances
can change relatively quickly. The information first reported to a communicator can be
different to when a police unit first arrives on scene or when an investigation is
commenced.
As such the description of an incident as a disorder incident may be appropriate in the
circumstances during an unfolding situation.
Police’s media team work hard to provide as much useful available information as
possible. An incident can initially be coded as one type of event (such as disorder, or
breach of the peace) by the communicator, depending on the information at hand, and
this can change accordingly.
Sometimes while a situation is unfolding, it isn’t possible to get al the details from the
frontline or isn’t appropriate to provide specifics of the incident.
Because there is no ful definition of a disorder incident, I am refusing your request under
section 18(e) of the OIA, as the information requested does not exist.
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision if you are not satisfied
with the response to your request. Information about how to make a complaint is available
a
t: www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
Nāku noa, nā
Nonumalo Juli Clausen
Director – Media relations
