Hon Tony Ryall MP National Party Police Spokesman
11 September 2005
Was the file of police prospect flagged or not?
National Party Police spokesman Tony Ryall says the Police Minister still has questions to answer over the case of a
police prospect who was linked by TV3 with the terrorist cell responsible for the Bali bombings.
"According to the report on last night's news, the man's alleged connection with the Bali bombings was flagged on his
computer records. The fact this person was even considered as a recruit for the police without questions being asked
beggars belief.
"Are the police now telling us that no-one bothered to check this man's computer records before he was accepted by
police for orientation?
"Did anyone raise this history with the potential recruit himself?
"If it is his history of domestic violence which makes him unsuitable as a recruit, why was this also not picked up
earlier?
"This is yet another embarrassment for George Hawkins' police recruitment drive, which was already suffering in light of
the recruit who was caught out in a finger-printing exercise.
"Under Labour confidence in the police has dipped to an all-time low.
"It's time for a change in Government, National will restore confidence in the police," says Mr Ryall.
ENDS