ACT Leader David Seymour has welcomed the Prime Minister’s decision to appoint a Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the events leading up to the Christchurch terrorist attacks but says it should include scrutiny of the Police response.

“It’s pleasing that the Prime Minister has made the decision to appoint a Royal Commission.

“As I said last Tuesday: ‘Given [the attacks involve] the performance of government agencies, I cannot see how the issues arising could be visited by anything less than a Royal Commission, reporting to the Governor-General, at arm’s length from Government.’

“New Zealanders deserve a comprehensive account of how these attacks were allowed to take place and how similar violence can be prevented from ever happening in this country again.

“Any response should be considered and grounded in evidence.

“It’s disappointing, however, that the Prime Minister has decided the Royal Commission will not consider the Police response to the attacks.

“I understand Police arrived at the Masjid Al Noor mosque while the attacker was still there but did not prevent him from leaving.

“It is critical that the Police response to the attacks is considered independently of the Government so that New Zealanders can have confidence in the agency.

“The Royal Commission must scrutinise every aspect of these tragic events.”

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