IR-01-23-20161
18 August 2023
Liam Hehir
[FYI request #23293 email]
Dear Liam
Request for information
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 28 June 2023 in which
you asked for information relating to an alleged theft at a motorcycle shop in
Christchurch.
You wrote:
Reported incident that occurred in Christchurch on 26 June 2023 at around 3.00
pm. This incident, as reported by media, involved an al eged theft at a motorcycle
shop, during which local individuals performed what was described as a citizen's
arrest. The incident was later reported in the New Zealand Herald:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/christchurch-police-tell-tradies-to-let-robber-go-
after-citizens-arrest/L565EJI35FFFNOVYO2VD4WWMPE/
I apologise for the delay in responding to your request. My response to each of your
questions are below.
The number of police officers in the Christchurch area who were on duty at the
time of the aforementioned incident.
There were 48 police officers on duty at that time in the Christchurch area. This included
Public Safety Team members, Road Policing, Criminal Investigation Branch,
Neighbourhood Policing Team and Community Liaison Officers.
Al officers are available to be deployed to where our communities need us.
How many of these officers were carrying out duties specifical y related to traffic
law enforcement during the same period.
Six police officers were working on traffic duties.
At the time that the call came in with regards to a shoplifter being apprehended by
citizens, there were 53 urgent incidents in the system. 15 of these were family harm
incidents which were triaged as being high priority. Police must prioritise cases where life
or safety is at risk.
New Zealand Police www.police.govt.nz
Telephone: 105
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision if you are not satisfied
with Police's response to your request. Information about how to make a complaint is
available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz or freephone 0800 802 602.
Yours sincerely
Lane Todd
Superintendent
Metro Commander: Christchurch
New Zealand Police www.police.govt.nz
Telephone: 105
