Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has directed staff to investigate possible legal action against a legacy media outlet over its use of police radio communications linked to Monday’s critical incident in Western Waikato.
Chambers said the publication of details and audio by legacy media outlet Stuff may breach section 133A of the Radiocommunications Act, which makes it an offence to use or reproduce radiocommunications not intended for public reception.
“It is extremely frustrating to have to take this step but it is crucial that sensitive operational matters are protected at this time,” Chambers said. He noted that the communications in question form part of ongoing investigations and inquiries into the incident.
The Commissioner acknowledged the case is of significant public interest but stressed that police have already worked to release as much information as possible while balancing the sensitivity of the investigations and privacy concerns. He urged media to consider the impact of their actions, warning that broadcasting or reproducing such communications carries legal consequences under the Act.
The police are no doubt struggling to match the publicly reported sound of only 4 successive rapid gunshots with their own bullsh*t narrative alleging that Phillips first opened fire on one cop and car before the second one arrived to engage Phillips and kill him.
Shut Stuffed down for good please
Whinging and moaning about this, meantime there’s what I would describe as the poor taste documentary they are a part of. Guess what, the public has every right to know what you are up to, you like the so called politicians are “public servants”. Get over it.
I know of no act that prohibits citizens from questioning public servants. Especially ones with guns who shot and killed a man.
Richard Chambers needs to pull his head in. There are discrepancies and if he or one of his sidekicks have lied to the public, Richard and the entire team who are playing along must be sacked.
Using the law to silence whistle-blowers isn’t going to silence them. Police news briefs are not lining up with fact, and these kids you claim to protect by killing their beloved dad.
The child who saw it all. They know what went on, who shot first. Are you going to put a gag order on them too?
Unless you would like to claim Mr Phillips had his firearm drawn, chambered and in his hand while riding a quad bike in the dark and shot first.
The setting up of road spikes for a father and daughter was ill-conceived. The risk of harm was too seriously too high.
If Richard is expecting a girl whom your officers killed their dad will cooperate, well you are truly a deranged little man. Further, these children condemn their illicit drug-using mother, yet you think they will reunite with her.
Hon Mark Mitchell is the minister of police and I am in no doubt he will not support dishonesty especially when campaigning to keep his job is just around the corner.
Stuff publishing the audio is tantamount to an objection to the police narrative. Stuff say the public have the right to know, indicates some important detail that might unravel that narrative. The fact that Stuff broke the injunction attributes a level of importance to this information.
I thought the very same thing as the first commenter.