IR-01-22-2740
14 March 2021    
Jo 
[FYI request #18317 email] 
Dear Jo  
Request for information 
Thank you for your Official Information Act 1982 (OIA) request of 25 January 2022, in which you 
asked for information regarding ‘Auditors’. You requested the following: 
Overseas (particularly prevalent in the UK) there are a significant number of Social 
Media ‘Auditors’. These individuals attend Police Stations and exercise their legal right 
to film in public. 
Auditors are regularly approached by Police and are often arrested/detained/questioned 
unlawfully. ‘Auditors’ are well versed in their legal rights. They are often approached by 
Police Staff and asked to provide their details. When the ‘Auditors’ decline to provide 
their details, they are often arrested for failing to provide details even though there is no 
legal obligation (under those circumstances) to provide them. 
The videos are uploaded to Social Media (especially YouTube) and foster significant 
negative feedback concerning Police. The ‘Auditors’ often engage in legal proceedings. 
Police often settle (for significant sums) out of court. Yet the interactions continue and 
Police fail time and time again to respect the rights and freedoms of the ‘Auditors’ and 
labour under the false illusion that members of the public are not allowed to film Police 
Premises. 
This recently prompted a memo from National Police Chiefs Council (UK) to all Police 
Staff to inform them of the practice and remind Police to use their powers appropriately. 
I am writing to you today to request any such internal memo in relation to ‘Auditing’ in 
New Zealand. The practice is starting to gain traction here, with the IPCA upholding 
some complaints by ‘Auditors’ in relation to unlawful detention. One recent audit 
involved Inspector Ross Grantham [incorrectly] advising an ‘Auditor’ that it was illegal to 
film outside a Police Station. 
Sometimes, the ‘Audits’ are referred to as P.I.P.P tests (Photography in Public Places). 
Police should be aware of the basic rights of individuals to film in public and refuse to 
engage with (or provide personal details) Police. Unlawful questioning / detention / 
arrest shall not be tolerated by members of the public who are engaging in every day 
lawful activities even if they choose to conduct those activities outside of Police 
Stations. 
Police National Headquarters 
180 Molesworth Street. PO Box 3017, Wellington 6140, New Zealand. 
Telephone: 04 474 9499. Fax: 04 498 7400. www.police.govt.nz   

---

No such internal memos have been distributed and Police has no specific policy for social 
media “auditors’.  Therefore, your request is refused pursuant to section 18(e) of the OIA as the 
information requested does not exist. 
You have the right to ask the Ombudsman to review my decision if you are not satisfied with the 
response to your request. Information about how to make a complaint is available at: 
www.ombudsman.parliament.nz. 
Yours sincerely 
Superintendent Dave Greig 
Director: Capability 
New Zealand Police   

---