September 09, 2022
Police rangatahi pics trigger privacy ruckus
Police say they’re making changes after a highly critical report by into the photographing of rangatahi.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner conducted a joint inquiry after Radio New Zealand reported police in Wairarapa were unlawfully photographing young Māori.
Police Commissioner Andy Coster says Police has accepted the findings of the inquiry.
He says they have implications for Police’s ability to effectively investigate and prevent crime.
Changes will be made to the retention or disposal of information that is no longer needed for the purposes of investigation.
There are already robust systems and processes in place around the retention of fingerprints, and Police are now acting on the compliance notice relating to youth photographs issued by the Office of the Privacy Commissioner to Police in December 2021.
The report said officers routinely take photographs of young people and adults in public for later identification with little cause.