Tony Ryall National Police Spokesman
21 February 2001
Government should move swiftly on digital interception
"Drug-pushing gangs are using the digital phone network and pre-paid phones to avoid police surveillance. Police have
told the Government that this is a major problem. In response, the Government has set up another committee," National's
Police spokesman Tony Ryall said today.
"The Government must wake up and get new legislation in place to fix this problem. They have a Telecommunications Bill
coming into the House soon. Having a committee headed by Paul Swain to sort out Privacy Act issues is hopeless. These
crooks don't need privacy, they need catching.
"Documents released under the Official Information Act show that Cabinet has been warned by Police that inaction is
seeing their law enforcement capability 'seriously eroded'.
"Methamphetamine is an increasing problem throughout the country. This Government's cutbacks to front-line police and
operating budgets are making it worse. I suspect the cutbacks mean that even if the legislation was passed, police would
have no money to pay for the technology," Mr Ryall said.
Ends