Police low-value crime directive

The story so far

A nationwide police directive to staff suggested that shoplifting under $500, petrol drive-offs under $150 and online fraud under $1000 would no longer be investigated.^{23, 26 May 2025} Police confirmed that staff were told in March not to investigate shoplifting involving goods worth less than $500, and the memo caused confusion about how such incidents would be handled.^{26 May 2025} Retail NZ asked for an urgent meeting with the Police Minister and commissioner about the change.^{26 May 2025} Police Commissioner Richard Chambers cancelled the directive, describing the memo as confusing and unhelpful, and asked district commanders to keep catching offenders regardless of value thresholds.^{27 May 2025} Police said they would continue to investigate all crimes regardless of their value.^{23 May 2025}

Latest

Police have launched a review to determine how many retail crime cases were filed under the directive, which has since been scrapped.^{30 May 2025}

Key moments

1. 23 May 2025Memo suggests low-value shoplifting, fraud and drive-offs will not be investigated
2. 26 May 2025Police confirm March instruction not to investigate sub-$500 shoplifting
3. 27 May 2025Commissioner Richard Chambers cancels the directive, calling it confusing and unhelpful
4. 30 May 2025Police launch review of retail crime cases filed under scrapped directive

Written from the stories below; each sentence links to its sources.