O’Reilly, J (2010). New Zealand Police Pre-Charge Warnings Alternative Resolutions – Evaluation Report. New Zealand Police.

Monthly PCW statistics are published at: https://www.police.govt.nz/about-us/publications-statistics/statistics/monthly-statistics

As with any new initiative, there is the risk of unintended outcomes. One unintended outcome of PCWs could be “net-widening”, or targeting of persons Police may have once dealt with more leniently (e.g., unruly persons being arrested instead of asked to move along). This would result in an increase in recorded offences. In 2012, a 5% reduction in the 16 offences for which PCWs were most commonly issued suggested “net-widening” is unlikely to be occurring.

Fewer offenders of Māori descent are offered PCWs than others. The main reason for this is that Māori tend to have higher levels of previous offending. To address this, Police is piloting an enhanced initiative, aimed at Māori offenders ineligible for a PCW or diversion because of their offending history. This would enable Police Iwi Liaison Officers (ILOs) to work with Māori offenders on alternative resolutions which avoid prosecution and include conditions not normally applied to PCWs, such as community work.