Activist groups lay complaint about spies
PRESS RELEASE: Save Happy Valley Coalition
26/6/07
For Immediate Use

Three groups laid a complaint today with the Private Investigators Registrar, asking that the matter of the spies employed by private investigators Thompson and Clark be referred to the Police for a criminal investigation.

This follows oral questions asked of the Minister of State-Owned Enterprises in Parliament today over what actions he has taken, and what assurances he can give to the public, after the expose of the use of infiltrators by State Owned Enterprises.

The Save Happy Valley Coalition, Wellington Animal Rights Network and Peace Action Wellington have lodged a complaint under the Private Investigators and Security Guards Act.

"The information received by Solid Energy and other state funded entities was obtained illegally - under the Act, all people operating as private investigators must be registered, which Ryan Paterson-Rouse and Somali Young were not. If the registrar sees fit, he is able to refer the matter to the Police for a criminal investigation," said Frances Mountier, spokesperson for the Save Happy Valley Coalition.

In response to a question by Green Party member, Keith Locke, Annette King answered on the Minister of SOEs behalf, claiming that communciation had been received from all 18 SOEs staing that they do not currently hire private infiltrators.

"Don Elder does not understand that there is a question of ethics here. He rigourously defended his companies right to spy on our group, no matter what the Government thinks of the practice. So how likely is it that Solid Energy's policy on spying has really changed? We think that Don is obviously out of line on this, and should resign."

ENDS

Security Guards and Private Investigators Act
34 Responsible employees to be approved by Registrar

(1)No holder of a private investigator's licence shall, either by himself or in partnership with any other licensee, employ or permit to act as a responsible employee in the business of a private investigator any person who is not the holder of a certificate of approval to be a responsible employee of a private investigator.

53Complaints against licensee

(1)The Police may at any time file a written complaint with the Registrar against any licensee.

(2)Any person other than a member of the Police may at any time, with the leave of the Registrar, file a written complaint with him against any licensee.

(3)The Registrar shall refuse leave under subsection (2) of this section unless he is satisfied that the complainant has a personal interest in the subject-matter of the complaint, and that the complaint is made in good faith and is not frivolous or vexatious.

(4)No complaint may be made under this section except on one or more of the following grounds:

[(a)That the licensee has been convicted of any crime involving dishonesty or of any specified offence: ]

(b)Any of the grounds specified in section 58 of this Act:

(c)That the licensee has contravened any provision in this Act or in any regulations made under this Act:

(d)That the licensee has been guilty of misconduct or negligence in the course of the business to which the licence relates.

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