Latest news with #NewZealandPolice
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Changes To ANZSOC Standard
In an effort to simplify and provide a number of enhancements to the way offence data is presented, New Zealand Police, Statistics New Zealand and the wider Justice sector are implementing the revised Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC) 2023. This is the first significant review and revision of ANZSOC since its adoption in New Zealand in 2011. From 31 July 2025 the ANZSOC classification will: See some offences renamed to use language that is easier for our community to understand. More offences will now be visible and included in our published data with details about types of assaults, sexual assaults, and burglary. Statistics will be republished back to July 2014 to allow for comparisons and trend analysis using the updated classification. The updated standard ensures that ANZSOC is still fit for purpose – both for Police's changing operational needs, and to improve transparency and visibility of offence data outside of Police. "The ANZSOC revisions are a positive development. They have been made to provide more detailed groupings of offences, with the aim of improving the transparency and understanding of offence-related data in New Zealand," says Assistant Commissioner Tusha Penny The move to the revised ANZSOC standard enables a common independent classification for offences and will refine statistics relating to crime by providing comprehensive break downs of different types of offending and by using simpler descriptions. Assistant Commissioner Penny highlighted one of the key differences is the revision of the category names to use uncomplicated language that is easier for Police staff and our community to understand. Examples of where changes will occur include, Acts Intended to Cause Injury will be now named Assault, while Unlawful Entry with Intent/Burglary/Break and Enter changes to become Burglary. The new classification offers greater granularity, there are more detailed break downs of burglary and assault and more offences are now visible and included in our published data. "Police's currently available suite of statistics will be republished back to July 2014 to allow for uninterrupted comparisons and trend analysis using the updated ANZSOC 2023 standard," says Assistant Commissioner Penny. The revised ANZSOC 2023 standard was formally adopted on 1 July 2025 and will initiate a period of transition to ANZSOC 2023 in statistical data being released across the sector in the coming months. Background information What is ANZSOC? The Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC) is a statistical framework that provides a common independent classification system for offences across the Justice Sector in New Zealand and Australia. The classification is shared with the Australian Police services and Justice sector, enabling enhanced comparability of offence and related statistics between agencies and jurisdictions. The ANZSOC classification system will also continue to be used across the Justice Sector agencies in New Zealand, and some other agencies such as Oranga Tamariki. Offence data can be found at is external), and more details about the ANZSOC standard at Australian and New Zealand Standard Offence Classification (ANZSOC), 2023(link is external).
ABC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- ABC News
New Victorian police chief Mike Bush says people should be free to protest without permits
Victoria does not need a permit system for protests, says the state's new top cop, who concedes there has been a breakdown in public confidence in police. In his first wide-ranging interview since joining Victoria Police, Chief Commissioner Mike Bush acknowledged Victorians felt less safe and declared "there's too much crime out there". The chief commissioner's arrival comes at a tumultuous time for Victoria Police, with crime at its highest rate since 2016 and an ongoing tobacco war that has seen 140 firebombings. Public confidence has also been at a 14-year low, with just 61.9 per cent of people having confidence in the police, far short of the force's 82 per cent target. "The data would definitely say that, and we've got to accept what the data tells us," Mr Bush said of the breakdown in public confidence. "We must be operationally excellent — whether we're preventing crime, responding to crime, investigating crime, resolving crime." Mr Bush is a 42-year police veteran of New Zealand Police. He ultimately became commissioner of the force, implementing a landmark crime-prevention policing model that included diversions and warnings for low-level offending. "We are, right now, considering our whole policing approach. I'm very keen to bring those things in, that's what the public deserve," he said. "Prevention is not a soft way of policing, it's just the right way, but we've got to do everything else too so responding is important, investigating and resolving is important. It's about getting the order right." The new chief commissioner told the ABC he did not support a permit system for protests, a measure debated in Victoria and already operating in New South Wales. "We've had a look to see if it will be effective, where we've landed is that it's not worth bringing in," he said. There has been significant public debate about protests in recent years, from the predominantly peaceful weekly marches in support of the Palestine community to anti-lockdown rallies and violent Land Forces protests. Shocked diners also watched on as protesters converged on an Israeli restaurant in Melbourne's CBD earlier this month, with tables and chairs thrown and a glass door damaged. Mr Bush addressed what he described as "polarisation" in the community, saying those with "an extreme view one way or the other are getting more extreme". He said the line between activism and extremism was "quite possibly" being blurred. "If we talk about public protest, absolutely," he said. "If you feel strongly about something, we are there to keep you safe while you demonstrate that. "But what we don't want is extreme behaviour that challenges the safety of other people — not just their physical safety but their feelings of safety. Mr Bush added: "It's only a minority but we should not tolerate the behaviour of that minority." Victoria Police has received independent legal advice that indicated the controversial chant "Death to the IDF" was not an offence. Mr Bush was also unequivocal when asked by the ABC if the chant amounted to hate speech. "No," he said. It came after former Victorian governor Linda Dessau called the phrase "totally unacceptable" and "hate speech" and Premier Jacinta Allan deferred to police when asked last week whether the chant was illegal. Under pressure to act on youth crime, the Allan government earlier this year announced a law reform package that included tougher bail conditions and a ban on machetes. It has also backed down from its pledge to raise the age of criminal responsibility to 14 — a move Mr Bush's predecessor opposed. Mr Bush would not say whether he supported raising the age but acknowledged there were limits to prevention-led policing. "The bottom line is, we don't want to see young people in prison, but some need to be there to protect the public," he said. The latest crime statistics show there were an extra 92,000 offences recorded in Victoria in the year to March, a 17 per cent jump from the same period last year. Youth crime also spiked to its highest level since records began, with children over-represented in home invasions and aggravated burglaries. Mr Bush was also asked about the state's ongoing tobacco wars, which has seen 140 firebombings by Middle Eastern crime factions trying to seize control of the illicit tobacco and vape market. He would not say whether it was a mistake for the federal government to have deported alleged tobacco kingpin, Kazem Hamad, who his own force has identified as being linked to a deadly arson which mistakenly killed Melbourne woman Katie Tangey. Police believe Hamad, who is now believed to be in Baghdad, is a key player in the tobacco wars who has orchestrated firebombings on his rivals or shop owners who refuse to pay exorbitant extortion fees. "I'm not going to talk about individuals," Mr Bush said. "But I will say on that subject that we have excellent international law enforcement, collaboration and cooperation and we use those partnerships and networks when we don't have a presence overseas." Mr Bush acknowledged tensions were high not only in the community but also among his own rank-and-file officers who have reported low-levels of morale and high rates of attrition. The rank-and-file made their displeasure known in February when officers passed a resounding no-confidence vote in former Chief Commissioner Shane Patton, who ultimately resigned. It followed a protracted pay dispute between the Police Association of Victoria and the Victorian government. Mr Bush said senior police leaders had to "own" the mood among his members. "We've also got to remove things that get in their way, the things that frustrate them, bureaucracy, too much paperwork," he said. He committed to upgrading technology for his officers in the next 12 months, who he said were being hamstrung by red tape. "I'm not going to be embarrassed to say that the New Zealand police are a long way ahead," he said. "We've agreed to partner up to actually not just learn from them, but they're quite prepared to share all of their platforms and technology with us." The Police Association of Victoria has previously said its members have a stake in Mr Bush's success. "He's regarded as a leader who listens to his troops, who connects with community, and has been known to prioritise prevention as the greatest weapon against crime," secretary Wayne Gatt said. "We think, given the challenges we currently face in policing in this state, that these virtues will be invaluable in the fight to win back Victoria."
NZ Herald
23-07-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Posts by Whakatāne councillor Nandor Tānczos prompt hate crime complaint from Israel
The prestigious prize is awarded annually to the person who has 'done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses'. Whakatāne-Ōhope ward councillor Nándor Tánczos. Tánczos said he had also posted some 'anti-genocide stuff' about the war in Gaza. The councillor regularly shares news articles, opinion pieces and his own views on the conflict via his personal Facebook page. He said he was contacted through his Facebook page by a woman in Tel Aviv who accused him of anti-Semitism and said she had two children in the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) who were good people. Tánczos responded to her, explaining that he had nothing against Jewish people, only against the current actions being taken in Gaza by the IDF. Three days later, he said he received a courtesy call from the Whakatāne police. 'The woman rang them from Tel Aviv to complain about my social media posts.' Tánczos said he was surprised to learn that opposing what he believed to be genocide, was a hate crime in her eyes. He said he was assured by the police officer who phoned him that they had looked into his online activity and informed the complainant that no crime had been committed. 'The police were great. It was just a courtesy call to let me know what had happened. 'It actually made me laugh to think that someone from Tel Aviv would go as far as reporting me to the New Zealand Police about this.' Tánczos said the experience would not stop him from expressing his opinions on Facebook. 'I don't have any hesitation in denouncing Israel's actions in Gaza. I'm not anti-Semitic.' Whakatāne police were not available to comment but a senior media adviser from police national headquarters said she did not think complaints of this type were common. - LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
Otago Daily Times
17-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Decision looms on festival licence
A decision on the Alexandra Blossom Festival special liquor licence will be made in the next 10 days after a hearing in Alexandra last week. Last month the Central Otago licensing committee declined the Alexandra Blossom Festival a special liquor licence. District licensing committee members John Mann (chairman), Lyal Cocks and Russell Anderson heard submissions from the blossom festival, New Zealand Police, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora and Jamie Hughes, who had been engaged by the festival to manage compliance with its licence in past years. There were no objections to the licence being granted from the police, the Ministry of Health or the Central Otago District Council's licensing inspector. The question debated was whether an "umbrella" licence held by the blossom festival committee was preferable to each alcohol vendor having its own. The committee questioned whether the umbrella licence actually met the requirements of the law. Mr McPherson said last year he was told by council staff an umbrella licence would not be issued so each vendor had to get their own. The Clyde Wine and Food Festival operates with individual licences. Health New Zealand compliance office Alannah Smyth said she attended the festival as part of her role. The problem she found was people buying alcohol from a vendor in the generic festival glass and then walking around. If someone was found intoxicated there was no way of knowing who had sold them alcohol. When the blossom festival held an overarching licence it was easy to have any issues addressed, she said, Mr Hughes said the festival was a cruisy day for him. He brought three staff with him, which was more than he would usually have for an event that size. His staff would liaise with each vendor's duty manager and make sure customers stayed in the designated area. Mr McPherson reiterated the festival was not about alcohol and had always been designed around a family day out. People came into the park, got lunch and a beer or wine and sat at the tables to watch the entertainment. Alcohol was secondary to the crowning of the festival prince or princess, the floats and the entertainers. A suggestion from Mr Mann that each vendor have a picket fence around their spot to contain their customers was not welcomed by Mr McPherson. "If individual people have to stay like penned sheep until they have finished that drink it will completely change the atmosphere." Mr Mann said he appreciated the time constraints and would have a decision in 10-15 days.
Otago Daily Times
17-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Voyeurism: What to do if someone is covertly filming you?
By Serena Solomon of RNZ It is unclear how often people are recorded without their consent in intimate situations and settings, but advances in digital cameras are likely making it more common. Voyeurism has been in the news frequently over the last few weeks. On Wednesday, news broke that a Dunedin man in his 20s pleaded guilty to filming himself and a woman performing a sex act without her knowledge and sharing it on his rugby team's group chat. His flatmate also pleaded guilty to filming a video of her while she slept. He shared the content that contained images of her in her underwear with her breasts exposed. Last month, a Stuff investigation revealed the Prime Minister's deputy chief press secretary Michael Forbes recorded the audio of his sessions with sex workers without their consent. He also amassed covertly taken images of women in grocery stores, at the gym and filmed some in homes through their windows. The revelations resulted in his resignation but Forbes is yet to be charged with a crime by New Zealand police. Then came a court martial hearing of Corporal Manu Smith where he was sentenced for filming sex with a girlfriend without her consent. Whether it reaches the attention of the law, the media or even victims, it's possible that voyeurism - sexual gratification from observing others in private settings without their knowledge - is happening constantly. However, because of its secretive nature, we will never know how prevalent it is and whether the greater risk comes from strangers or if perpetrators are more likely to be known by victims, as is the case with other sexual abuse. What is voyeurism? The Crimes (Intimate Covert Filming) Amendment Act 2006 addresses voyeurism when a recording device is involved. The act makes it illegal to create visual recordings without the knowledge or consent of the person being recorded in a situation where that person 'would reasonably be expected to provide privacy..." It is generally legal to take unconsented images and video of others in public places, but not in private places such as a public change room or a toilet and if that person is 'naked, in underclothes, showering, toileting etc,' says Detective Inspector Rebecca Cotton from New Zealand Police. The 2006 law was introduced in response to increased instances of 'upskirting and downblousing,' according to Dr Cassandra Mudgway, a senior lecturer at the University of Canterbury's law school. At the time, digital recording technology paved the way for perpetrators to install, say, small cameras on their shoes and walk around town recording up women's skirts. 'These days, we don't have good numbers around prevalence and of course, this is covert so by its very nature it is secret,' says Mudgway, adding that technology advances makes voyeurism easier to pull off and likely more common. The covert recordings Forbes made have highlighted gaps in the 2006 law, where audio recordings are not covered. The images he secretly took of women in public likely didn't meet the law's threshold of an "intimate visual recording". Advocates and survivors of voyeurism are pushing to change that. When it comes to sexual abuse in general, the vast majority of victims will know their perpetrator such as a family member, a teacher, or a co-worker. No such data exists for crimes involving intimate and covert recording or peeping tom cases, voyeurism that does not involve a recording. However, Auckland-based clinical psychologist Barry Kirker has noticed a pattern in his work with perpetrators. An adult victim is more likely to be filmed in public by a stranger, and a young person is more likely to be filmed in their home, he says. Why is voyeurism a violation? It's true that many victims of voyeurism will never know that a crime has been committed against them. It's also true that a perpetrator may never lay a finger on their victim, but that doesn't make the crime any less painful for those who know they have been recorded, says Ruth Money, the government's chief adviser for victims of crime. 'It's violating because it is... somewhere where you should be safe and feel completely private and safe and that's what sexual assault is - power and control - and that is why people feel incredibly violated and vulnerable.' Some victims might be able to brush it off. But many will not - and shouldn't. It could also trigger the trauma of past abuse, says Money. '...then you go take yourself down a very understandable route of thinking, 'Well, what has this person done with the content? Because it's unauthorised images.' In the case of the New Zealand soldier and the Dunedin men who themselves himself having sex with women without consent, they were accused of sending that content to others. Social media and now AI's ability to generate deep fake images including pornographic photos and videos has also changed the game. '...Something like online harms or harms that involve technology, we're seeing increasing prevalence from strangers, people that you don't know [as perpetrators] which is something that's quite new, I think', says Mudgway. What to do if you think you are being recorded? If you believe you are being recorded in breach of the Crimes (Intimate Covert Filming) Amendment Act 2006, you should report it to police by calling 105, according to Detective Inspector Cotton. 'Police would then assess the information provided to determine whether any criminal offending had taken place and/or if any further investigation was required.' If the incident occurs in a gym or a pool, inform the manager. This could result in the perpetrator losing their membership or facing a ban from the establishment, says Mudgway. 'I've actually just looked at all of the gyms that have chains around New Zealand and seen that almost all of them have some kind of [voyeurism] policy. '... even if nothing comes of it, I think it's really important that people understand that it's still a breach of your right to privacy and your right to personal dignity, even if there is no specific law that covers that, you still have those rights.' A civil suit - essentially suing the accused perpetrator - is also a possible but potentially expensive option, according to Mudgway. 'The difference between criminal and civil is that civil has a lower burden of proof, which means that you only have to prove that it's more likely than not that in that place [the victim] had a reasonable expectation of privacy versus a crime where it has to be beyond reasonable doubt.' Finding help if you're a victim of voyeurism New Zealand still has room for improvement when it comes to reducing the burden on victims and survivors when it comes to seeking help, says Money. 'When your world is turned upside down, when you are violated and there is a trauma response, it means that you don't necessarily think rationally or in a linear fashion anymore.' When you report a crime to the police, they can refer you straight to local agencies such as rape crisis centres or women's centres that help victims of sexual crimes. However, sometimes referrals fall through the cracks or agencies lack the funding to truly help all referrals, says Money. Victims can also self-refer to those agencies including Victim Support, a national organisation that supports those who have experienced various crimes. ACC's Sensitive Claims Service accepts self-referrals and provides help for mental harm caused by sexual assault or abuse. The Safe to Talk hotline is another avenue for help. 'I do acknowledge it's difficult being a survivor and navigating the system so, I just want to encourage people not to be afraid to ask for help because it is out there,' says Money. 'It does exist.' Where to get help Call the Safe to talk hotline on 0800 044 334 or visit their website Need to Talk? Free call or text 1737 any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any 0800 543 354 or text HELP to 4357 . any time to speak to a trained counsellor, for any 0800 543 354 or text to . Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 / 0508 TAUTOKO. This is a service for people who may be thinking about suicide, or those who are concerned about family or friends. Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757 or text 4202 . . Samaritans: 0800 726 666. Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234 or email talk@ or email talk@ What's Up: 0800 WHATSUP / 0800 9428 787. This is free counselling for 5 to 19-year-olds. Asian Family Services: 0800 862 342 or text 832 . Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. . Languages spoken: Mandarin, Cantonese, Korean, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, and English. Rural Support Trust Helpline: 0800 787 254. Healthline: 0800 611 116. Rainbow Youth: 09 376 4155. OUTLine: 0800 688 5463. Eating Disorders Carer Support NZ: Also on Facebook. If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.
