The number of back-office police staff investigated for misusing the police's record database has jumped, but the police say the stats are in line with an increase in staff numbers. The National Intelligence Application (NIA) system holds police intelligence, offence and incident records, and can only be used for legitimate purposes. Documents released under the Official Information Act show that in 2018 there were four investigations about the misuse of the database by service centre staff - two were upheld. Twelve people's employment was terminated as a result but the documents said this number included people who resigned during the process. He said that pushed up the number of database breaches.

Source: Otago Daily Times May 01, 2021 23:26 UTC