28 Sep 2022

Police made false theft report while tracking lockdown breakers

From Morning Report, 7:09 am on 28 September 2022

Just one month after the Privacy Commissioner warned police to do better when it comes to number-plate cameras and privacy, a detective pretended a car was stolen so they could track it.

OIA documents show the police made the false report while hunting three women who travelled to Northland last October, sparking a Covid-19 lockdown.

A month earlier, the commissioner had told a police deputy chief executive who was keen to expand use of the cameras, they had a lot to do to improve privacy culture, practices and management.

Phil Pennington is looking into this.