Police review photograph policy

WELLINGTON: Police have launched a national review into a policy of taking photos of young people after it was revealed officers in Wairarapa took illegal photos of Maori youngsters.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority and the privacy commissioner announced they would undertake a joint investigation into the photographing of the youths by police in a Masterton street last month.

Police have announced an internal review into the practice to make sure the policy is fit for purpose and to look at how it is being applied on the front line.

Acting assistant police commissioner Scott Fraser said the review would determine whether the policy needed to be amended.

As it stands, the police are able to take photos of young people under Section 214 of the Oranga Tamariki Act. However, this was brought under scrutiny when it was revealed a police review in August found three photographs, all of young Maori, contravened legislation and had since been destroyed.

``Currently if a young person is arrested under section 214 of the Oranga Tamariki Act we can take the young person's photograph. We are just making sure that it is clear to our people,'' Mr Fraser said.

There is no timeline on the review and there is no indication of when changes might happen, but police said they wanted to act quickly.

``There are a number of aspects [of the review], looking at our own policy working with stakeholders and others on advice whether it should be changed, or maybe should it be worded in a way that is clearer,’’ Mr Fraser said.

Asked whether the instigation of the review showed it was a wider issue and not just confined to the cases in the Wairarapa, he said it was not.

``No — it is critical we maintain the public trust and confidence. While we know the staff were acting in the best intentions, the review will look to assess if there has been inconsistencies of how the policy has been applied.’’ —