Nearly two million people appear in a New Zealand police intelligence system with an alert against their name, inquiries by the Otago Daily Times have revealed. Those in the database are generally flagged without their knowledge, and a leading security analyst says the broad sweep of the system raises privacy concerns. George Block reports.
Has your driver's licence ever been cancelled? Vetted by police recently? Do you have a firearms licence?
Then chances are you appear in the police National Intelligence Application (NIA) with at least one alert against your name.
Police can apply 126 different "person alerts", including flags for firearms licence holders, people known by police to be HIV (AIDS) positive, and alerts for paedophiles and convicted murderers.
This all adds up: 1,988,963 people in New Zealand have at least one alert against their name - just over 40 per cent of the population at an average of 1.7 alerts per person, according to figures obtained under the Official Information Act by the Otago Daily Times.
In Otago and Southland, 112,459 (34 per cent) of people have an alert against their name.The most common alert is "Vetting Monitor", at 740,000 alerts on 570,000 people nationally.
Police general manager professionalism and assurance Mike Webb said this alert was placed on people to indicate they had been checked out by the police vetting service.
Alerts for "Family Violence Involvement" were the next most commonly applied, at 640,000 active alerts on 295,000 people.
Webb said people were automatically flagged when linked to a family harm incident, whether as a suspected offender, victim or a witness.
The third most frequently applied alert was a flag for people whose photo driver licence card was cancelled (430,000).
Some alerts expire quickly, but others linger for life.
Police assurance group national crime registrar Mike Rawsthorn said the "Missing Person" alert expired when the person was found.
Flags for family violence involvement expire two years after police attend the incident, he said.
But alerts for suicidal tendency and using/carrying firearms are indefinite, and only expire if they were errors.
Locations and vehicles can also be flagged, for example gang pads or stolen vehicles - one of the more colourful flags in the extensive list is the location alert for "booby traps".
Firearms licence flags are generated and applied automatically, only expiring with the licence, and non-citizens can be flagged.
The upshot of that is there is every chance the Christchurch terror accused had an alert against his name.
Generally people were not notified when an alert was placed against their name in the NIA system, but each case was judged on its merits.
However, at-risk family violence victims might be informed an alert was placed on them, their home, vehicle and telephone number to advise staff of the risk and assist police response, Rawsthorn said.
The NIA alert system plays an important part in the duties of frontline police.
When deployed to an unfolding incident, a call will come over the radio to advise officers of the flags of the person or location involved so they can respond accordingly.
For example, if a person has flags for assaulting police, they may call for backup on a routine traffic stop.
The system is also accessible from police mobile phones.
The intelligence application, which replaced NZ Police's Whanganui Computer, is far more than just a database of flags and includes information on criminal histories, offences, incidents and case management files.
Since it became operational in 2001, there have been several instances of police misusing the system.
In August 2009, figures showed 33 staff had been caught making unauthorised checks of the NIA since August 2007, The NZ Herald reported.
Nine later resigned.
Two years later, a police internal investigation...

A man arrested over a vehicle-ramming outside Ukraine's London embassy has been sectioned for mental health treatment.
The Ukrainian embassy says its ambassador's vehicle was deliberately rammed several times
The driver then rammed into a police car and several other vehicles, before police used firearms and a taser to bring him under control.
UK correspondent Gavin Grey told Tim Dower the 40-year-old suspect has been arrested and is being treated in hospital.
He says authorities are relieved this was a mental health incident, rather than something far more sinister.
Police said the suspect is a man in his 40s who did not appear to be injured but was taken to a central London hospital for a precautionary check. The suspect has not been identified or charged.

Following the decision early Thursday by the European Union to delay the U.K.'s departure for a second time, not much is clear about Brexit bar the certainty that the divisions in British society and in Parliament will remain.
The so-called "flextension" until Oct. 31 given to Britain to approve a Brexit withdrawal agreement will require the country to hold elections for the European Parliament on May 23 — provided the withdrawal agreement hasn't been passed by lawmakers.
Few think that's going to be likely after Prime Minister Theresa May saw the deal she agreed with the EU voted down by lawmakers on three occasions this year.
The extension at least provides more time for May to break the logjam, though it could easily just prolong the national agony. European Council President Donald Tusk acknowledged as much when he delivered a message to Britain: "Please do not waste this time."
A look at what could happen next:
MAY'S MARKETING CAMPAIGN
For two years, May pledged that Britain would leave the EU on March 29, 2019. But this is the second time she has been forced to agree to a delay.
The prime minister addressed the House of Commons Thursday afternoon and urged members to use the upcoming Easter break to "reflect on the decisions that will have to be made" in search of compromise.
She said that if talks with Labour do not lead to a plan both sides could back, then the government would ask Parliament to vote on a small number of options. She said the government would agree to accept the decisions and that the opposition would have to agree to that as well.
May stressed that Britain can still leave the EU without taking part in the European Parliament elections if lawmakers approve her deal by May 22.
May has in recent months failed to sway many hard-line Brexiteers in her party partly because of deep opposition to provision in the withdrawal agreement about making sure the border between EU member Ireland and Northern Ireland, which is part of the United Kingdom, remains seamless.
It remains to be seen whether her pleas win anyone over. Many of them find the prospect of Britain participating in the European elections unpalatable, given that it will be almost three years since Britain voted to leave the EU.
CROSS-PARTY COMPROMISE
Having failed to win enough support from her own Conservative Party, May last week began negotiations with the opposition Labour Party.
Labour favors a softer Brexit than the government's plan and is seeking a close economic relationship with the bloc through a customs union. That's anathema to many Conservatives, who say it would prevent Britain from striking its own trade deals with countries like the United States, China and India.
Several days of talks have failed to produce a breakthrough. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn says the government hasn't been willing to compromise on its "red lines."
Still, the negotiations are set to continue.
LET PARLIAMENT DECIDE
If the talks fail, May says she will let Parliament vote on a variety of Brexit alternatives, including the government's proposed deal, in hope something can command a majority.
A so-called "soft Brexit" might get through Parliament and would be welcomed by the EU, allowing Britain an orderly departure before Oct. 31.
But it could also blast open rifts within both the Conservative and Labour parties. Pro-Brexit government ministers could resign, increasing pressure on May to quit. The prime minister has already said she will resign if her Brexit deal is approved and Britain leaves the EU, but rivals are circling.
Corbyn, meanwhile, would face rebellion from the large number of Labour lawmakers who want a new referendum on Britain's departure from the EU.
NEW PRIME MINISTER
The pressure on May is increasing, with hard-line Brexit supporters criticizing the prime minister for twice begging the EU to delay Britain's departure...

Recent events have seen calls to delete Facebook reach a fever pitch - but will that actually protect your privacy?
A University of Vermont study has found Facebook and Twitter know your interests to a 95 percent accuracy based on your friends, even once you leave the sites.
Mathematician James Bagrow, who led the research, told Kate Hawkesby your friends provide a very significant amount of useful information about you.
"So even if you opt out, Facebook doesn't have access to your data, but they can still tell quite a bit about you from your social ties."
Bagrow says the information includes political affiliation, interest in sports or anything you'd use to create an advertising profile.
The study has also found that if you give Facebook access to your address book, it has all your contacts, not just Facebook friends.
Bagrow says that means a company like Facebook can start connecting the dots.
"And I think when many people opt in to share that, they don't necessarily realise that they'be affected all of these people who may have concerns about being involved in that data collection."
 

National's tertiary education spokesperson is refusing to say if the party will keep free fees.
A Canterbury University study has found fewer than six percent of students were there because of free fees policy.
One-third of that six percent were more likely to drop out or fail compared to the students that weren't there because of the policy.
Shane Reti told Kate Hawkesby National doesn't yet know if they will get rid of the policy.
“That is a discussion we are currently having. We will come out with a response in regards to the Fees Free program later on in the year.”
"I think the key finding is the six percent number. The question we are asking is, for $2.8 Billion, is this program value for money and a good investment. The answer is no, it's not.”

COMMENT:
So unless Rugby Australia receives "compelling mitigating factors," Israel Folau is gone.
I wondered why it was taking them longer than about five minutes to sack him.Folau is a repeat offender and his latest social media outburst was beyond the pale.
What was he thinking? Talk about not reading the room.
Have we ever had a more heightened awareness of hate speech than right now? Have we ever learned more powerfully than the past month in this country about the dangers of hate speech?
And yet, there's Israel Folau. His comments of course are unacceptable at any time don't get me wrong, but now? What was he thinking? Was he trying to get out of his rugby contract?
What surprised me, almost as much as the comments themselves though, was the reaction of the 'Rugby Australia Integrity Unit'. As all of social and mainstream media blew up with this, they put out a statement saying they would "investigate the comments".
What? It was a bullet pointed list of hate speech, how hard is that to 'investigate'? What's to investigate? The spelling?
In times like this it's important to remember that while many of us might be able to dismiss these words as crazy, hateful or stupid and not give it the time of day - others cannot.
What about young kids or members of the rainbow community who may look up to Israel Folau? What about those who already feel persecuted, or fragile, having this crap sprayed all over social media again? What about young rugby fans?
And worse, what about those who agree with him and see this as stoking the fire? It's a reminder of the damage one voice can do.
And in the name of what? Religion.
So Christianity, which is supposed to be inclusive loving and accepting, is used as a weapon to exclude? I don't believe that's Christianity."Judge not that ye be not judged" - ring a bell?
There're other players with religious beliefs, but they are smart enough not to use them like this. Israel Folau had a platform. He abused it.
Not only is the Australian Rugby Union now looking at tearing up his contract, the NRL have said they won't touch him either.
So what's he achieved?
In preaching about all those he believes will go to hell, the only person going anywhere is Folau.
At 30-years-old, with a multi-million dollar four-year contract in his hands, what's he got now?
Well he'll argue his faith. I can only hope that pays the bills.

Mozambique has gone from being underwater, to being critically short of any water following Cyclone Idai.
The inland ocean of floodwaters is starting to recede after last month's storm, the worst in southern hemisphere history.
But it's left behind widespread destruction to homes and infrastructure.
World Vision aid worker Mark Mitchell told Kate Hawkesby water sources are now extremely scarce.
"All of the bore holes and collection points of water have been contaminated by the floodwater, making drinking water very scarce."
Mitchell says rural communities have been particularly hit, with nealy 1 million hectares of crops destroyed or lost in central Mozambique as a result of widespread flooding and heavy winds in the wake of Idai.
"The floodwaters have literally washed houses way. All of the investments and crops people owned have been completely destroyed."

Here’s a prediction for you, for what it’s worth.
Jacinda Ardern will be a one-term Prime Minister. Not because she’s no good, quite the opposite...because she’s a rockstar who is ready to move on.
Even if Labour win another term in 2020, my bet is she won’t be at the helm. She’ll be off to greener pastures. Like the UN.
Why?
Because when you are this young and make this big of an impact internationally, when you are lauded on the international stage to the degree she’s been this year, you strike while the iron is hot.
The spotlight is on her and it’s a good time to be a woman – and a competent one at that.
What is the world desperate for right now? Capable compassionate women. Box ticked.
If the UN isn't sniffing around her yet, I’d be surprised. And if they are, my pick is she’ll go.
She’s had a taste of the international scene, she handled it with aplomb.
Everything the UN stands for aligns with her own beliefs. She’s big on ideology, a fan of discussion and consultation, she’s empathetic. Perfect UN material.
Who needs the stress and day to day tumult of being Prime Minister if you don’t have to?
Here, she is trapped in a finite political cycle. Her time will come and go. And she’s at the top of the tree already.
At her age, if you want longevity and you’ve got political aspirations and a ‘change the world’ mindset, you need to go further afield. Think about it, she didn’t expect to be Prime Minister so soon, let alone even leader of her party.
It all happened fast, and she’s already halfway through her term.
She’s managed to navigate in that time, a new coalition government, a baby, a national crisis, and working the international stage.
And as far as the international press is concerned, she hasn’t put a foot wrong.
If you’re an ambitious person, you’re already thinking of the next step. Why would you hang around if you’re already able to tick the Prime Minister box?
When Ardern famously appeared at the UN with baby Neve watching on, it made worldwide headlines.
Not because of the impact of her speech, which was largely to an empty chamber, but because of what she represented.
At the time, political editors were hailing her as “the torch carrier for progressive politics".
The BBC’s Nick Bryant called her UN performance, “the most interesting debutante of the year".
So how do you capitalize on all that exposure and all that international goodwill?
You strike while the iron’s hot.

The euthanasia debate will be left up to our politicians.
After 16 months, the Select Committee discussing the End of Life Choice Bill, tabled by David Seymour, cannot agree on many major recommendations.
The Act Party leader will spend the next six weeks drumming up support for it.
Otago University research fellow, Jessica Young, told Kate Hawkesby it's a shame that after all the committee will have learnt through the process, not to have their expertise on how to improve the bill.
"However, it's not particularly surprising given the constituents of the committee that they couldn't come to some consensus."
Young said Select Committees normally focus on improving technical aspects of conscience issues, rather than recommending changes.

Israel's ruling party has been accused of placing 1200 body cameras in Palestinian polling booths during the national election. 
Israeli journalist and political commentator, Eylon Levy, told Kate Hawkesby it's a very disturbing development.
Israel's ruling party accused of placing body cameras in polling booths
"But of course, many within the Arab community regard this as an attempt at intimidation [and] it is against Israeli law to film other people inside voting stations."