Consider contacting a Liaison Officer, if relevant to your situation.
The New Zealand Police as an organisation exhibits racial bias, and gender bias and sexuality bias. In an attempt (which is sometimes successful, sometimes not) to make the reporting process more comfortable and culturally safe, the Police employ “liaison officers” for particular population groups (although not women per se – yet!):
Have a support person with you when you report to police – whether it’s on the phone, in person or via online report. Your support person can:
- take notes (see below)
- help explain stalking behaviours you’ve experienced
- say what stalking behaviours they have witnessed you being targeted with
- speak and advocate on your behalf if police do not take your concerns seriously
- remind you of any questions you wish to ask.
You may want to let your support person know beforehand what role you would like them to play in supporting you to report stalking to police. It can also help to debrief with them after you talk to the police (i.e, talk about the meeting with police) and talk through anything you didn’t understand or weren’t clear on.
Prepare ahead of time
If possible, we recommend you write notes ahead of reporting to police, about stalking behaviours you have experienced, with as much detail as possible. See documenting your experiences.
Refer to any previously reported stalking
If you have previously reported stalking, make sure police are linking your current report with any previous reports to establish the pattern of stalking, by referring to the old job or case number and any other report or file numbers. Share any new information or evidence you have about previously-reported stalking.
Provide details about stalking behaviours
When you report a stalking episode, it might help to say clearly, “I am being stalked and harassed”, and give details of what happened. Show officers any evidence you have, and say the person should know their behaviour is likely to cause you fear, and explain why. In practice, police may be more likely to take the behaviour seriously if you say the behaviour is making you seriously fear for your safety and/or that of your family. (Under law, you don’t have to ‘prove’ your fear.) You may also wish to tell them any precautions you are taking because you are fearful. You could also say “I believe this is criminal harassment, under the Harassment Act.”
Take notes
You or your support person can record: the date of the conversation/meeting with police, the name of the officer you spoke with and what they said they will do. If you are calling 105, or making an online report, ensure you have a job number that you can refer back if you make further reports.
Next steps
Ask them what they will do with the information you have provided. If you want them to arrest the person stalking you, and they are non-committal about this, ask them why they are not planning to arrest the person, and what more they need before they will arrest them. Ask them for an officer’s contact details and what they will do and what you can do to ensure that police will respond promptly the next time you are being stalked.
Stand your ground
If an officer seems to downplay your concerns, you or support person can politely ask to speak to a supervisor or – if the stalker is your current or former romantic partner, or even just someone you dated once – you can ask to speak to someone from the local Police Family Harm team.
Police are legally obliged to treat victims with courtesy and compassion and respect victims’ dignity and privacy.
Be persistent
It’s okay to call 105 again or visit the station multiple times if stalking continues. Each report is important to help establish an ongoing pattern of stalking.
