Electronic Record-Keeping
Ross Francis made this Official Information request to New Zealand Police
The request was partially successful.
From: Ross Francis
Dear New Zealand Police,
When did Police introduce an electronic record-keeping system?
Since the introduction of its electronic record-keeping system, have Police conducted any investigations with similarities to the Peter Ellis/Christchurch Civic Creche case? (That is, have multiple children made sexual abuse allegations about multiple offenders in a creche or day-care setting?) If so, how many cases have Police investigated, what year did any investigation(s) take place and were any alleged offenders prosecuted?
Please note that I am requesting all information held by Police, including information held in the minds of those responding to this request.
Please contact me if you have any queries about this request.
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
New Zealand Police
Dear Mr Francis
I refer to your request of 20 November 2017 for the following information:
“When did Police introduce an electronic record-keeping
system?
Since the introduction of its electronic record-keeping
system, have Police conducted any investigations with
similarities to the Peter Ellis/Christchurch Civic Creche
case? (That is, have multiple children made sexual abuse
allegations about multiple offenders in a creche or daycare
setting?) If so, how many cases have Police
investigated, what year did any investigation(s) take place
and were any alleged offenders prosecuted?
Please note that I am requesting all information held by
Police, including information”
I have been asked to notify 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, because the request necessitates a search
through a large quantity of information and consultations such that a
proper response to the request cannot reasonably be made within the
original time limit. Police require until 31 January 2018 to provide a
substantive response to your request.
You have the right to complain to the Office of the Ombudsmen about this
extension.
Teresa McMahon, Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters / New Zealand Police / Nga Pirihimana O
Aotearoa
180 Molesworth Street, PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140 [1]www.police.govt.nz
===============================================================
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References
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1. http://www.police.govt.nz/
New Zealand Police
Dear Ross,
I have been tasked with responding to your Official Information request
dated 20/11/2017.
In order to be confident with my response to your question “When did
Police introduce an electronic record-keeping system?” I need to clarify
what you mean by record-keeping system. For example, in 1976 the NZ
Police switched on the Law Enforcement System (LES) (colloquially known
as the Wanganui computer), which enabled police to do electronic
record-keeping. This facility was further enhanced with the roll out of
the National Intelligence Application (NIA) in 2005 (and LES was switched
off). So if you need more information, we will need to know more
precisely what type of records or electronic system you are referring to.
I look forward to your response,
kind regards
===============================================================
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: Ross Francis
Dear New Zealand Police,
Thank you for your belated (and incomplete) reply of 16 January 2018 to my request dated 20 November 2017.
Police have confirmed they hold no electronic records pertaining to the Christchurch Civic Creche investigation in 1992. You are welcome to explain why that is the case if Police began keeping electronic records from 1976.
You have not addressed the remainder of my request. You have until the end of this month to provide me with the information requested.
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
Ross Francis left an annotation ()
Hi Luke,
I don’t believe my request is confusing. Police have confirmed they did not have an electronic record-keeping system in 1992. According to this article, it was in 1994 when such a system was introduced. Police are welcome to confirm if that is correct.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9...
Yes, it does matter when an electronic record-keeping system was introduced which is why I’ve asked the question!
Cheers
Ross Francis
Luke C left an annotation ()
The person answering your request did not understand what was meant by "electronic record-keeping system" and sought clarification. Would you not want to take the opportunity to clarify for them what you mean.
From: Ross Francis
Dear New Zealand Police,
Thank you for your belated (and incomplete) reply of 16 January 2018 to my request dated 20 November 2017.
Police have confirmed they hold no electronic records pertaining to the Christchurch Civic Creche investigation in 1992. You are welcome to explain why that is the case if Police began keeping electronic records from 1976. Please note that this article states that police introduced an electronic record-keeping system in 1994.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/9...
You have not addressed the remainder of my request. You have until the end of this month to provide me with the information requested.
Yours faithfully,
Ross Francis
From: MCMAHON, Teresa
New Zealand Police
Dear Mr Francis
Attached is the response to your information request.
Ministerial Services
Police National Headquarters / New Zealand Police / Nga Pirihimana O
Aotearoa
180 Molesworth Street, PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140 [1]www.police.govt.nz
===============================================================
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. http://www.police.govt.nz/
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Luke C left an annotation ()
Ross
I think the way you have worded this request could cause confusion. I think you should re-phrase your request so it is very clear and focuses on what really matters. There are different understandings. For example, the Wanganui Computer versus a corporate recording keeping system for business records (e.g. EDRMS, DMS, etc)
Does it really matter when an electronic record keeping system was introduced?
It's likely that the Police have investigated child sex offending cases in day care centres since the introduction of their first record keeping system. But why you want to tie any possible investigations back to the commencement of Police's first record keeping system is beyond me.
Link to this