Controversial Police Directive Led to Sharp Drop in Retail Crime Investigations

Recent revelations have exposed a controversial internal police directive that drastically reduced the number of retail crime investigations in several regions of New Zealand. The directive, which has since been withdrawn, instructed officers to stop pursuing cases involving theft and fraud that fell below certain financial thresholds. This decision has sparked widespread debate and concern among both the public and law enforcement officials.

What the Directive Said

The directive, titled 'Assignment Changes - Theft and Fraud', outlined specific value thresholds for various types of retail crime:

• General theft: $200
• Petrol drive-offs: $150
• Shoplifting: $500
• Fraud (paywave, online, scam, etc.): $1000
• All other fraud: $500

According to the directive, any case falling below these thresholds would not be investigated, regardless of any evidence or potential leads. This policy was applied nationwide through the Police's File Management Centre (FMC).

Immediate Impact Across Regions

The directive had a profound effect on the number of investigations conducted in the first 12 days it was in place. In Wellington, the number of daily cases dropped from an average of 60 to 30. Other regions also experienced significant declines:

• Auckland City: 26% drop
• Tasman: 56% drop
• Canterbury: 13% drop
• Southern: 37% drop

While some regions, like Waikato, saw a slight increase of 2.7%, the police attributed this to the reassignment of cases that had been previously processed.

Public Reaction and Backlash

The directive faced immediate criticism from both victims and law enforcement. A template email sent to victims whose cases fell below the threshold expressed regret that police could not investigate further, acknowledging that this would be frustrating for those affected. The email also noted that investigations are prioritized based on legal timeframes and the likelihood of successful convictions.

Police Commissioner Steps In

Following the backlash, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers announced the directive had been scrapped, calling it 'confusing and unhelpful'. A review is currently underway to assess how many cases may have been impacted by the directive and whether they should be investigated further.

What's Next?

The review will be conducted by the Police's data quality team. Authorities have emphasized that the goal is to ensure cases are managed locally, balancing community needs, resources, and priorities. The directive has raised important questions about the balance between resource allocation and the justice system's responsibility to all victims, regardless of the financial value of the crime.

As the review continues, the public and retailers are watching closely to see how the police will address these concerns in the future.