If you go down to the woods today…

Green Media Release 22-4-08

The Greens today revealed that a security firm, run by the same private investigators involved in hiring paid informants to infiltrate community groups, has applied to the Department of Conservation to patrol public conservation land on the Stockton Plateau.

The Greens are calling on DoC to turn down the application in light of the recent activities of these investigators, and on principle that the public should be free to enjoy conservation land without being spied on or questioned by private security guards.

Provision Security has applied for an unprecedented concession to operate security services on DoC land.

The directors of Provision Security, Gavin Clark and Nicolas Thompson are also the directors of Thompson and Clark Investigations Limited, the firm caught out paying informants to spy on the Save Happy Valley community group.

Provision Security were previously caught operating illegally on DoC land, but were let off with a warning.

“The Department of Conservation should not allow Provision Security to operate on public land,” says Dr. Russel Norman, Green Co-leader.

“It is unacceptable that citizens enjoying public conservation land should be monitored by a private security firm, especially a security firm with such a chequered record.”

The area covered by the concession application covers popular walking tracks such as Charming Creek Walkway.

ENDS

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