I’m getting increasingly disturbed by the Police’s keenness to use SWAT-style tactics for executing search and arrest warrants. I note that in the recent case in Christchurch they even used ‘incendiary devices’ as they stormed the place. Therefore:
Police National Headquarters
PO Box 3017
Wellington
Dear Sir/Madam,
Under the Official Information Act I request the following information:
1. Which people, positions or ranks within the NZ Police are authorised to deploy squads of armed police (such as the Armed Offenders Squad, anti-terrorist squads or similar). To clarify my request, I am referring to all squads or teams using SWAT-style tactics and equipment.
2. The number of times these squads have been called out in each of the past 10 years (1996-2006) and in the current year to date (2007).
3. The percentage of those call outs that were in response to an incident (e.g. a shooting) as compared to a planned deployment (e.g. to execute an arrest warrant). Any other statistical breakdown of reasons for deployment recorded by the Police.
4. The policy used to determine whether to use these squads to execute arrest warrants.
5. The policy used to determine whether to use these squads to execute search warrants.
6. The policy used to determine whether these squads will make an unannounced forced entry when executing search or arrest warrants.
7. The circumstances in which these squads are authorised to use incendiary devices such as flash-bang grenades when making an unannounced forced entry.
8. The number of times incendiary devices such as flash-bang grenades have been used in each of the past 10 years (1996-2006) and in the current year to date (2007).
9. The number of injuries caused by the use of incendiary devices such as flash-bang grenades in each of the past 10 years (1996-2006) and in the current year to date (2007).
10. Details of any oversight procedures performed either by the Police or any other body (such as the Police Complaints Authority) to review the use and activities of these squads.
Regards,
Thomas Beagle