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Police Advisory Groups

Operational Advisory Group

The Operational Advisory Group (OAG) was established in early 2022 and brings together a diverse range of operational staff from across districts, rank and role, length of service, ethnicity and perspective to ensure that the research programme is informed by frontline insight, observations and advice from Police’s operating environment, including management policies and practices, training, and deployment.

The Independent Panel have identified that much existing research into perceived police systemic bias has relied heavily on outcome data alone, without fully engaging with communities and police officers and exploring their interactions. The Panel have taken the time to develop an approach which will engage police officers and our diverse communities as partners in the research process, rather than as subjects.

The OAG is chaired by Superintendent Scott Gemmell (Ngāpuhi), Tāmaki Makaurau Director: Partnerships.

Research Steering Group

A Research Steering Group (RSG) was set up in early 2021 with the key functions of enabling the programme, providing guidance and oversight, supporting the collaboration across the UPD contributors and to help ensure that Police protect the independence of the work. Membership was made up of mostly internal Police staff across functions such as the Evidence Based Policing Centre, Media and Comms, Assurance and Risk, Royal New Zealand Police College, Iwi and Communities, Capability, Deployment, Emergency Communications plus representatives from the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Justice Sector.

The Research Steering Group was chaired by Assistant Commissioner Bruce O’Brien.

This group was disestablished in 2022 following a review of purpose and function.  The initial intent of the group was to support and enable the research programme and this has since been superseded by functions of the Leads Group, Research Management Committee, and appointment of the Chief Advisor to the Panel.