New crime agency and powers welcomed

April 2 saw the release of the Government’s organised crime strategy with detailed proposals on the establishment of an organised crime agency and additional laws and powers.

Deputy Commissioner Operations Rob Pope, says the strategy and establishment of the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand (OFCANZ) are significant steps in the ongoing battle against serious, organised and financial crime.

He says OFCANZ will work to combat serious and organised crime, including serious fraud, through a range of inter-agency operations and taskforces.

It will involve law enforcement, intelligence, border agencies (Customs, MAF, Immigration), regulatory and financial authorities and a range of government departments.

OFCANZ Establishment Director, John Beaglehole, says OFCANZ will also liaise closely with overseas intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

“It will be hosted within NZ Police, and will work collaboratively across agencies, departments and Police service units.”

OFCANZ will incorporate the significant capability and experience of the Serious Fraud Office.

“The SFO staff will build on existing capability and bring a range of new expertise to focus on organised crime, as well as serious financial crime,” says John.

Proposed legislative reforms announced by the Minister of Justice will further help Police and other agencies by modernising the laws and powers officers have to deal with organised and financial crime.

“Criminals are using increasingly sophisticated networks and transactions to commit crime and conceal their activities,” says Rob.

“The proposed legislative reforms will give us improved capability to track their activities and more effectively disrupt their activities and prosecute them.”

One such reform will provide wider identity protection to undercover officers giving evidence in organised crime-related trials.

Police have put together a small establishment team to develop the operating framework and approach for OFCANZ, in consultation with other agencies.

“There is a significant amount of work required to develop both the agency and most appropriate operating model to meet Police, OFCANZ and multi-agency requirements,” says Rob.

“I expect this to evolve and be consulted on more widely during the lead-up to 1 July.”

John says good progress is being made with setting up the agency, and the finer details will be worked through in coming months.

“OFCANZ will be operationally driven, targeting the top end of organised and financial crime,” says John.

“It will focus on the disruption of organised and serious financial crime using the full range of measures from asset seizure and prosecution, through to deportation.

“OFCANZ will operate a range of taskforces with staffing and support drawn from a cross section of Government and – where appropriate – international agencies.”

The government’s organised crime strategy is available at www.justice.govt.nz/cpu/organised-crime/index.html