Richard Worth National Justice Spokesman

18 September 2003

National looks for answers in Ardern case

National has filed applications in Parliament to treat as a contempt the actions of Detective Inspector Stephen Vaughan, who entered Parliament on 9 September to question National MP Shane Ardern in respect of possible criminal charges.

"The police failed to secure the permission of the Speaker to enter the grounds," says National's Justice spokesman Richard Worth.

"The applications also seek that Inspector Marty Grenfell be called before the bar in the debating chamber to produce papers and records relating to the events.

"There has been substantial public comment that the police initially planned to warn Mr Ardern and that would be the end of the matter.

"But there have been continuing suggestions that the Government, through media comment, pressured the police to lay criminal charges and the suggestion of close links between the office of the Police Minister and the officer who made the decision to prosecute.

"The applications will prove the truth or otherwise of the assertions. If the Government has acted correctly, it should have nothing to fear from supporting the applications," says Mr Worth.

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