Union wants answers from police

December 19, 2008

Media Release from the National Distribution Union

The National Distribution Union has lodged an Official Information Act request for information the police hold on it.

National Secretary Laila Harré says she is angry that police informant Rob Gilchrist was being paid to gather information about legitimate union activity and wants details of reports he made about the union.

“The public need to know why the police think they need to use valuable resources and taxpayer money on spying on unions when they say they are too stretched to do the rest of their job properly,” she says.

“Its looks as if they are using public money to indulge in a bit of old fashioned right wing paranoia.

“I would be interested in whether they are spying on employer organisations, and business lobby groups.

“After all some of them hold far more extreme views than any of the other organisations that Mr Gilchrist is reported to have spied on.”

Ms Harré says somebody has to start holding the police accountable and if governments won’t then it is up to civil society to do so.

“It undermines our democracy when governments unquestioningly believe whatever line the police choose to feed them.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media