Police photographing young Māori: IPCA, Privacy Commissioner investigates
24 Dec, 2020 01:44 AM
2 minutes to read
RNZ
Police illegally photographing young Māori will be probed in an official joint investigation by the police watchdog and the Privacy Commissioner.
The practice came to light after multiple reports of rangatahi having their photos taken by officers in Masterton.
Whānau described their sons walking alone in broad daylight and being approached by officers who insisted on taking their picture.
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Police were called on to undertake a similar review nationwide.
Yesterday, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) told RNZ it had begun a nationwide probe into the practice.
Report from RNZ by Te Aniwa Hurihanganui and Hamish Cardwell
Police in the Wairarapa have admitted to illegally taking photos of youths after RNZ alerted them to multiple reports of officers stopping and photographing young Māori on the street.
Whānau describe their sons walking alone during the day, when police have approached and insisted they take their picture.
Marlene Harris said it happened to her son while he was walking home alone one afternoon in Masterton two years ago. He was just 15 years old at the time.
“He was just walking from his dad’s house back to my house and he was just minding his own business, walking along the street,” she said. “From what he can remember, there were two cops in the car. They just pulled up beside him and said that they needed to get his photo taken, or they would need to take him in.”
Police.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
Whānau describe their sons walking alone in broad daylight, when police have approached and insisted they take their picture.
Marlene Harris said it happened to her son while he was walking home alone one afternoon in Masterton two years ago.
He was just 15 years old at the time. He was just walking from his dad s house back to my house and he was just minding his own business, walking along the street, she said. From what he can remember, there were two cops in the car. They just pulled up beside him and said that they needed to get his photo taken, or they would need to take him in.
Wairarapa youths stopped and photographed by police
20 Dec, 2020 07:01 PM
5 minutes to read
RNZ
By Te Aniwa Hurihanganui and Hamish Cardwell, of RNZ.
Police in Wairarapa have admitted to illegally taking photos of youths, after multiple reports were made of officers stopping and photographing young Māori on the street.
Whānau said their sons were walking alone in broad daylight, when police approached and insisted they take their picture.
Marlene Harris said it happened to her son while he was walking home alone one afternoon in Masterton two years ago.
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He was just 15 years old at the time. He was just walking from his dad s house back to my house and he was just minding his own business, walking along the street, she said.
He was just 15 years old at the time. He was just walking from his dad s house back to my house and he was just minding his own business, walking along the street, she said. From what he can remember, there were two cops in the car. They just pulled up beside him and said that they needed to get his photo taken, or they would need to take him in.
Harris said he was not really given a choice. They did ask for permission, but it was more, can we have your photo taken? . And that followed by, if you don t, then we will have to take you into the station .