Officials warns that retail crime advisory group lacks relevant expertise after resignations

Source: Radio New Zealand

• Officials caution that after resignations retail crime advisory group doesn’t have security or facial recognition expertise
• Group chairman says it will deliver robust reports on these issues to minister
• Ministry of Justice says its advice still stands.

Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith has ignored advice from officials warning the remaining members of the ministerial advisory group charged with tackling retail crime don’t have relevant expertise in matters it will issue advice about.

Three of the five members of the Ministerial Advisory Group for Victims of Retail Crime resigned late last year and early this year, leaving just chairman Sunny Kaushal and Hamilton liquor retailer Ash Parmar.

Goldsmith confirmed last month that the group, which has faced criticism for its spending, will wind up in May, four months earlier than planned.

Before then the remaining members are expected to in April deliver advice to Goldsmith about the security industry, and facial recognition technology and information sharing.

Kaushal, who owns Auckland’s Shakespeare Hotel and is an advocate for retail shop owners, says he’s confident he and Parmar can deliver robust work.

But, a 26 January briefing from Ministry of Justice officials to Goldsmith and Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee, obtained by RNZ, has raised concerns.

‘Remaining members do not hold subject matter expertise’

Group member Michael Bell quit late last year. His resignation was followed by Lindsay Rowles and Carolyn Young earlier this year.

“The three members who resigned, brought experience and expertise in the retail sector and in security and crime prevention,” the briefing said.

Young is Retail NZ’s chief executive. Officials said she brought leadership and experience to the group.

Bell, who worked for Michael Hill, was a key member of the jeweller’s security taskforce, which is “responsible for monitoring retail crime trends nationally and globally, and implementing prevention measures”.

Rowles had expertise in security and crime prevention, having formed and led Foodstuffs’ retail crime working group, which included trialling facial recognition technology

Continuing with just two group members came with a warning: “We do not consider the current membership meets the requirements established in the terms of reference, as there are no members who bring experience and expertise in security.”

Suggestions for a way forward included terminating the group as soon as possible; letting it run until September as planned; appointing new members to the group to replace the three who resigned; or winding it up early after it delivered in April reports on the security industry and facial recognition technology and information sharing.

This is the option Goldsmith chose, announcing on 10 February the group would continue with its current work before winding up in May.

“We consider there are two primary risks with proceeding on this basis. The first is that the advice provided by the MAG will be on behalf of the two remaining members and will not reflect discussions and endorsements of a fully constituted membership with a breadth of expertise and experience required by the terms of reference,” the briefing said.

“This is particularly important given that the remaining members do not hold subject matter expertise relevant to the areas covered by the reports – security industry, FRT, and information sharing.”

Chairman says advice will be robust

Kaushal told RNZ he was confident the group would deliver robust advice about the security industry and facial recognition technology.

He said all the group’s proposals were developed after at least two rounds of feedback from the likes of the retail sector, government agencies, local councils and non-government organisations.

“In the case of our FRT advice, we’ve consulted with privacy experts, the Privacy Commission, UK regulators, and FRT service providers both in NZ and the UK, along with retailers and sector groups,” Kaushal said.

“In the case of our security industry advice, we’ve consulted widely across the sector in New Zealand, with regulators here, and with industry bodies in Australia and Canada, along with retailers and sector groups.

“Our policy process is robust. It involves the MAG developing both an issues paper and an options paper – both of which are consulted on before final advice is prepared. We contract with experienced policy professionals to support the MAG in developing its advice.”

Kaushal said he was working with ministers on making sure the group’s remaining advice was balanced and considered a full range of sector views.

He said the group’s record spoke for itself.

“In just 18 months, we have delivered substantial and measurable progress in strengthening law and order. Through the ministerial advisory group, I have led seven major legislative-ready reform proposals.

“Four have already been accepted by the government to progress into law, including the Crimes Amendment Bill currently before Parliament.”

That bill includes extended powers for citizens’ arrests.

Goldsmith was asked about officials’ concerns about the expertise of the group’s two remaining members. His office said he had nothing further to add.

Ministry deputy secretary, policy, Caroline Greaney said: “The advice given stands, and the ministry has nothing further to add regarding that.

“An approach to mitigating some of these concerns is being worked through now, but at this point there is nothing more to say.”

New Zealand Security Association chief executive Gary Morrison said it was “reasonably relaxed” about the change in group personnel, and it had given feedback about facial recognition technology 8-10 months ago, before the resignations.

The association dealt with advisers to the group and Morrison had found they’d taken a balanced approach to issues.

‘Not played out as I hoped’

Bell’s resignation letter said that due to the significant time commitments of his job as Michael Hill national retail manager, he couldn’t focus enough on the group’s work.

Rowles was stepping down after his appointment as Mitre 10 chief executive, a position beginning this month.

Young’s letter said she decided to resign after consulting with the Retail NZ board.

In a covering letter to justice secretary Andrew Kibblewhite she thanked ministry officials for their support, but added: “… it certainly has not played out as I had hoped and it is disappointing that we haven’t been able to do more meaningful work with this group.”

She later told RNZ the group was a “very unpleasant environment” in which to work.

The group was supposed to operate for two years to September. It has an annual budget of $1.8 million, paid for from the proceeds of crime fund.

It has delivered advice to the minister on issues such as tougher penalties for shoplifters, strengthening trespass laws, and introducing new citizens’ arrest powers.

But, it has faced criticism about its value for money, including the $230,000 Kaushal invoiced for work in its first 12 months, which was allowed under the group’s payment guidelines; the central Auckland office space it rents for $120,000 a year; and the $24,000 spent on 22 well-catered stakeholder engagement meetings around New Zealand.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand