Locke wants Police to find, plug 'terrorism' leaks
Green Party MP Keith Locke has called on Police Commissioner Howard Broad to take steps to find and plug the leaks to
the media of evidence gathered to support the failed 'terrorism' charges, before those leaks further jeopardize the
chance of fair trials on the alleged arms offences.
"On the weekend, TV3 gave its viewers a potted summary of a large document of surveillance evidence that TV3 said had
been leaked to them. This was not the first time that the media have been leaked material that the Police have gathered
concerning the Maori, peace and environmentalist activists arrested.
"Having failed with respect to the terrorism charges, the Police are now at risk of having their evidence leaked to an
extent that will prevent the accused receiving fair trials on the arms charges.
"At the operational level, has Commissioner Broad been able to find out whether these leaks are emanating from the Crown
Law Office, or from within his own ranks ? Stopping them should now be a top priority for the Commissioner, and ranked
in importance alongside his commitment to mend relations with the people of Ruatoki.
"Commissioner Broad also probably needs to advise the public what he intends to do with this body of surveillance
evidence, given that it will not now be used to support terrorism charges. If only to prevent any further damaging leaks
of this information, there is an argument that the information should be expunged," Mr Locke says. . For more
information:
ENDS