Gang Member Numbers
Amy Ferguson made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
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From: Amy Ferguson
Dear New Zealand Police,
Under the Official Information Act, I am requesting the following information:
The most recent estimates of the total number of active gang members in New Zealand, broken down by the following regions:
Te Tai Tokerau (Northland)
Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
Waikato
Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty)
Te Tai Rāwhiti (Gisborne)
Taranaki
Manawatū-Whanganui
Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
Te Tau Ihu (Nelson/Marlborough)
Te Tai Poutini (West Coast)
Waitaha (Canterbury)
Ōtākou (Otago)
Murihiku (Southland)
Historical data on gang membership numbers over the past five years, broken down by the regions listed above.
Any reports or assessments on trends in gang membership across New Zealand, including factors contributing to increases or decreases in overall gang membership numbers.
I confirm that I reside in New Zealand.
Amy Ferguson
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
EXTERNAL Official Information request Gang Member Numbers.txt
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EXTERNAL Official Information request Performance Metrics and Data Sharing.txt
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EXTERNAL Official Information request Resource Allocation and Impact on Community Safety.txt
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EXTERNAL Official Information request Effectiveness of Gang Management Policies.txt
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Tēnā koe
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 requests
attached, received by Police on 31 May 2024.
These have been combined into one OIA record.
Your reference number is IR-01-24-19094.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 2 July 2024 unless
an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi
Lisa
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this
message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If
you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the
sender immediately
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Kia ora Amy,
I refer to your request of 31 May 2024 as per the below email.
I have been asked to advise you that Police requires an extension of time
in which to respond to your request, pursuant to section 15A(1) of the
Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). Specifically, section 15A(1)(a), the
request is for a large quantity of official information or necessitates a
search through a large quantity of information and meeting the original
time limit would unreasonably interfere with the operations of the
organisation.
Police requires until 13 August 2024 to provide a substantive response to
your request, however we are endeavouring to provide this to you as soon
as possible.
You have the right, under section 28(3) of the OIA, to make a complaint to
an Ombudsman about this extension. If you wish to discuss any aspect of
your request with us, including this decision, please feel free to contact
[1][email address]
Kind regards, Courtenay
Senior Advisor - Ministerial Services Police National Headquarters
From: Ministerial Services
Sent: Friday, 31 May 2024 2:16 PM
To: '[FOI #27091 email]'
<[FOI #27091 email]>;
'[email address]'
<[email address]>;
'[email address]'
<[email address]>;
'[email address]'
<[email address]>
Subject: Acknowledgement of four OIA requests relating to gangs -
IR-01-24-19094
Tēnā koe
I acknowledge receipt of your Official Information Act 1982 requests
attached, received by Police on 31 May 2024.
These have been combined into one OIA record.
Your reference number is IR-01-24-19094.
You can expect a response to your request on or before 2 July 2024 unless
an extension is needed.
Ngā mihi
Lisa
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this
message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If
you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the
sender immediately
References
Visible links
1. mailto:[email address]
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Kia ora Amy
I refer to your four Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) requests to
Police on Friday 31 May 2024 at 8.46am, 8.48am, 8.50am and 9.03am, which
are all gang-related and are very wide-ranging. The full requests are set
out below.
As these requests are about the same or similar subject matters and were
received in short succession, Police will be treating them as a single
request under section 18A(2) of the OIA. The due date for the Police
response to this combined request is 13 August 2024 and the Police
reference number is IR-01-24-19094.
In its current form, it is likely that Police will have to refuse this
request under section 18(f) of the OIA, as the information cannot be made
available without substantial collation or research. In accordance with
section 18B of the OIA, Police wishes to provide you the opportunity to
make your request in a form that would remove this reason for refusal, by
refining your request to the key areas you are interested in. Police
would appreciate hearing from you by Tuesday 18 June 2024 or will proceed
with considering the response as described above.
Ngā mihi, Michelle
Ministerial Services - Police National Headquarters
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Request 1 at 8.46am
-Documents detailing the implementation and effectiveness of the
whole-of-government action plan to reduce harms caused by adult gangs and
transnational crime groups, specifically:
-The creation and impact of the Gang Intelligence Centre.
-The "Start at Home" programme and its outcomes.
-The Dedicated Enforcement Taskforces' activities and their success in
targeting drug trafficking networks and preventing international gang
travel.
-Data on the number of gang-related crimes, arrests, and convictions over
the past five years, broken down by year and type of crime.
-Evaluations or assessments of the effectiveness of gang management
policies, including:
-The ban on gang patches in public places.
-The use of dispersal notices.
-The impact of non-consorting orders and aggravating factors in
sentencing.
Request 2 at 8.48am
-Data on the funding and resource allocation for gang management
initiatives over the past five years.
-Reports or evaluations on the impact of these initiatives on community
safety, including any changes in crime rates and community perceptions of
safety.
-Information on inter-agency collaborations and the outcomes of these
efforts in managing gang-related activities and reducing associated harms.
Request 3 at 8.50am
-Performance metrics used to evaluate the success of the Gang Intelligence
Centre and other gang management initiatives.
-Information on data sharing agreements and protocols between the Police
and other agencies, such as Corrections, Customs, and the Ministry of
Social Development, in relation to gang management.
-Case studies or examples of successful interventions or operations
against gang activities, including any lessons learned and best practices
identified.
Request 4 at 9.03am
-The most recent estimates of the total number of active gang members in
New Zealand, broken down by the following regions:
-Te Tai Tokerau (Northland)
-Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland)
-Waikato
-Te Moana-a-Toi (Bay of Plenty)
-Te Tai Rāwhiti (Gisborne)
-Taranaki
-Manawatū-Whanganui
-Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington)
-Te Tau Ihu (Nelson/Marlborough)
-Te Tai Poutini (West Coast)
-Waitaha (Canterbury)
-Ōtākou (Otago)
-Murihiku (Southland)
-Historical data on gang membership numbers over the past five years,
broken down by the regions listed above.
-Any reports or assessments on trends in gang membership across New
Zealand, including factors contributing to increases or decreases in
overall gang membership numbers.
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this
message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If
you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the
sender immediately
hide quoted sections
From: Amy Ferguson
Kia ora Michelle
Thank you for your response on June 11, 2024, regarding my Official Information Act (OIA) requests. I understand that my initial requests, submitted on May 31, 2024, are broad and could place significant demands on your resources. To facilitate a manageable process and avoid refusal under section 18(f) of the OIA,
I have refined my requests to focus on critical areas for policy evaluation and public safety.
Narrowing the Time Frame:
-Please provide data from 2022 to the present, where available.
Focusing on Key Regions or Trends:
-Concentrate on regions with significant gang activity trends, specifically:
Auckland
Waikato
Bay of Plenty
Wellington
Canterbury
Summarized Reports:
Provide summaries or high-level insights if detailed reports are not readily available, including:
-Key findings or trends in gang member numbers.
Prioritization:
Address parts of the requests that can be fulfilled more easily or are immediately relevant to ongoing policy discussions first:
-Initial focus on gang member numbers and resource allocation.
-Subsequent focus on performance metrics and effectiveness of policies.
Further Refinements to Specific Requests
Gang Member Numbers:
-Focus on the current total number of active gang members by region, the past two years of data, and limit reports to the three most recent documents.
[Personal Note]
Rationale for Information Request and Justification for Non-Refusal:
My intention in requesting this information is to support the development of effective strategies and tools to expedite meaningful reform in gang management, ultimately enhancing public safety in New Zealand. I understand that my request is wide-ranging and could present significant demands on your resources. However, the information I am seeking is crucial for informing public discourse, evaluating policy effectiveness, and safeguarding individual rights. By understanding the current landscape of gang activities, assessing the effectiveness of existing management policies, and exploring the potential for technological advancements, we can identify critical areas for improvement and develop more effective strategies to address gang-related issues.
I am particularly interested in the following areas:
Current Landscape of Gang Activities
-Detailed information on the types of gangs, their activities, and their impact on communities.
Effectiveness of Current Gang Management Policies
-An analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of current policies, identifying areas for improvement.
Potential for Technological Advancements to Support Gang Reform
-Exploring how technology can enhance data collection, analysis, and intervention strategies.
I am aware of the potential concerns regarding the scope and detail of my request. However, I believe that the information I am seeking is essential for achieving the following objectives:
Preventing Crime and Harm
-By understanding the root causes of gang involvement and developing effective intervention strategies, we can prevent crime and reduce harm within communities.
Reducing Victimisation
-By addressing the factors that contribute to gang violence and intimidation, we can reduce the number of victims and create safer communities.
Building Trust and Confidence
-By working collaboratively with communities and ensuring transparency in policy development, we can build trust and confidence in the New Zealand Police.
I am committed to engaging in meaningful collaboration with the New Zealand Police to achieve these shared objectives. By working together, we can develop effective gang management strategies that enhance public safety and protect the rights of all New Zealand citizens.
It is crucial to balance public safety with individual rights, ensuring that any information gathered is used responsibly and ethically. The objective should be to address the root causes of gang involvement, promoting strategies that tackle underlying issues rather than merely punishing symptoms.
The information I seek will be invaluable in informing public discourse and policy evaluation on gang management strategies in New Zealand, as outlined in my FYI requests. The proposed policies could have significant implications for several rights and pieces of legislation, including:
-New Zealand Bill of Rights Act (NZBORA)
Concerns about the potential infringement on freedoms of expression and association due to the ban on gang patches.
-Sentencing Act
The policy of making gang membership an aggravating factor in sentencing raises issues about relevance to specific cases.
-Treaty of Waitangi
The disproportionate impact on Māori communities could conflict with the equity principles of the Treaty, leading to possible claims before the Waitangi Tribunal.
While the government suggests that these measures will improve public safety and reduce gang intimidation, critics warn that they may not effectively reduce gang crime and could worsen social isolation among gang members, potentially increasing gang affiliation and related issues like domestic violence. There are also practical challenges regarding enforcement, with concerns about the strain on police resources and the feasibility of consistent application across regions.
Balancing public safety with individual rights is critical, and ensuring that any collected information is used responsibly and ethically is paramount. The objective should be to address the root causes of gang involvement, promoting strategies that tackle underlying issues rather than merely punishing symptoms.
I trust that these refinements address your concerns. I look forward to collaborating meaningfully with you to gather meaningful data that will inform public discourse and policy evaluation on gang management strategies in New Zealand, while also safeguarding the freedoms of New Zealand citizens.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Amy Ferguson
From: Ministerial Services
New Zealand Police
Tēnā koe Amy
Please find attached the response to your Official Information Act
request, received by New Zealand Police on 31/05/2024.
Kind regards,
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters
===============================================================
WARNING
The information contained in this email message is intended for the
addressee only and may contain privileged information. It may also be
subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Policing Act 2008, which
creates an offence to have unlawful possession of Police property. If you
are not the intended recipient of this message or have received this
message in error, you must not peruse, use, distribute or copy this
message or any of its contents. Also note, the views expressed in this
message may not necessarily reflect those of the New Zealand Police. If
you have received this message in error, please email or telephone the
sender immediately
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