Retail crime investigations decreased following former police directive

Wednesday 30 July 2025 · 3 outlets · 3 reports · updated Wed 30 Jul 2025, 5:55pm

In this story Richard Chambers, File Management Centre

A scrapped police directive instructed staff not to investigate retail crime allegations below certain financial thresholds. Documents reveal that more than 5,000 shoplifting complaints under $500 were not forwarded for investigation, causing retail crime files to halve in some regions.

How they headlined it

1:38pm3:22pm5:55pm

1. RNZWed 30 Jul 2025, 1:38pm

   Controversial police directive saw retail crime investigations halve in some regions (opens in new tab)

2. 1News via RNZWed 30 Jul 2025, 3:22pm

   Shoplifting complaints not followed up after police directive (opens in new tab)

3. NZ HeraldWed 30 Jul 2025, 5:55pm

   Retail crime investigations in some regions halved under police directive (opens in new tab)