Police Commissioner Richard Chambers Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Removing a controversial value threshold for volume crime is expected to result in 60 percent more shoplifting cases being assigned for investigations, documents reveal.
RNZ earlier revealed a directive was sent to staff relating to police's File Management Centre (FMC) titled 'Assignment Changes - Theft and Fraud'.
The directive said FMC was applying "nationally standardised value thresholds" when assessing theft and fraud files. The value thresholds were: General theft $200, petrol drive off $150, shoplifting $500, fraud (PayWave, online, scam etc) $1000, and all other fraud $500.
"When assessing files with these offences, you will apply the relevant value threshold and file any file under that threshold regardless of any lines of enquiry or IFA score," it said.
Following the revelations Police Commissioner Richard Chambers canned the directive, which he called "confusing and unhelpful" following significant backlash.
RNZ has obtained a series of documents from police under the Official Information Act.
Among the documents is a briefing from police for Police Minister Mark Mitchell dated 3 June ahead of a meeting with Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young following RNZ revealing the directive's existence.
The briefing has some "key messages" including that retail crime remained a "priority" for police.
Retail crime was a "complex matter", costing retailers $2.6 billion each year, the briefing said.
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The briefing said there had been "recent media coverage" of thresholds that were used by police to "triage volume crime offences".
"While, prior to March 2025, cases were still closed using value thresholds before being assigned to districts, Police recognises that this recent change in practice has led to the perception that offending below the value thresholds will not be investigated or offenders held accountable for their offending."
Police would be implementing a revised case assessment process that did not include value thresholds.
"Removing all value thresholds from the triage criteria will result in a significant increase in the number of volume crime cases being assigned to districts.
"For instance, on early modelling, we expect approximately 60 percent more shoplifting cases will be assigned to districts following this change."
The police's Data Quality Team would also be completing a review of cases that might have been impacted by those thresholds to assess whether they should be assigned to districts to follow up.
Police were also developing a modernised Case Assessment Tool (CAT) based on a recommendation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority.
"The CAT will consider lines of enquiry (including evidence and suspect information) and public interest factors when determining whether a case is assigned to districts."
Police would "accelerate work" on the CAT and try to have it implemented "faster than currently planned".
"The CAT will provide a more robust mechanism for assessing whether cases should be assigned for investigation."
A police spokesperson told RNZ that since the Commissioner's directive to remove value-based triaging thresholds police had seen an average incase of about 3800 additional files a month being sent to districts for assessment.
"To help manage this increase and ensure a consistent, victim-focused response, Police are developing a pilot initiative to establish an Initial File Investigation (IFI) Team. This team will support districts by providing timely engagement with victims, offering prevention advice, clarifying investigation pathways, and following up on any new information provided.
"The pilot will be trialled across our three Tāmaki-Makaurau districts and is designed to create a more equitable and consistent approach to assessing all Category Four volume crime, not just theft and shoplifting. The aim is to ensure victims receive appropriate support while enabling Police to manage demand effectively."
Police are also working on developing a standardised inquiry file template and enhanced case management reporting tools.
More than 5000 shoplifting complaints not investigated
Among the documents was a tally of shoplifting complaints under $500 during the period the directive was in place. It revealed there were 5454 complaints of shoplifting that were not assigned for investigation.
In Auckland, only 73 of 927 complaints were assigned, in Canterbury 192 of 742, Wellington 131 of 694.
Executive director service, victims, resolutions Rachael Bambery said it was not correct to assume that all the closures were due to the monetary thresholds for early case closure.
Some might have had no information or evidence to follow up on.
She confirmed police were completing a review on files that were closed previously due to the monetary threshold. That review was focused on identifying and pursuing any outstanding lines of enquiry.
Retail NZ chief executive Carolyn Young Photo: Supplied
Shop owners 'devastated'
Retail New Zealand's Young said shop owners were disappointed at the number.
"I'm sure they're absolutely devastated that the impact that's happened in their store has not had any follow up and we know from our research that our members have told us that 40 percent of retail crime is not reported and one of the reasons they give is 'cos they think nothing will happen.
"So if there was 5400-odd incidents in that two-month period, add another 40 percent on and you're probably at the right level of what was occurring.
"It just reiterates how big a crime issue is when you say that's the level below $500."
She said it was a systemic problem with a devastating impact on the retail system.
Young said while it was disappointing when retail crime was not followed up, Retail NZ understood it came down to resourcing.
"Whilst we are always really disappointed that the police are unable to follow up on every incident that occurs, we know that one of the principal problems that we've got is resourcing and we just need more police."
Offences accumulate
Young said shoplifting was often repeated by the same offenders and when police didn't investigate the cumulative harm was greater.
"One of the things that we know is there is a lot of small level offending. You think about drive-offs at the petrol station - invariably that's under $500 but someone offends five or six times, it's a significant amount of money.
"And when you have people that are offending in a supermarket or an apparel store three or four times a week the cumulative factor of that adds up and so the dollar value is not the material piece.
"It's actually what harm is that individual doing and how often are they offending and how can we stop that individual person."
She said the Police Commissioner had acted swiftly and made a commitment to combating retail crime and Retail NZ was working closely with the police on it.
Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group chairperson Sunny Kaushal Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Uninvestigated complaints 'shocking'
Retail Crime Ministerial Advisory Group chairperson Sunny Kaushal called the number of uninvestigated shoplifting complaints "a shocking figure".
"That's why it was so important that Commissioner Chambers responded so quickly to our call for it to be reversed at the earliest opportunity."
He said the directive was clearly having an impact on investigations.
"Shoplifting is costing New Zealand $1.4 billion a year, and the bill is being paid by every hard working Kiwi through increased prices at the till.
"Shoplifting of any value is not okay. Offenders need to know that police will investigate any and all cases reported to them."
He also said the Police Commissioner planned to make retail crime a key priority for police.
"Retailers are now seeing the benefit of this change in priority, especially in areas that now have a dedicated retail crime team.
"I encourage police to scale these efforts so that every area across the country can benefit from the great work of those teams."
