Tony Ryall National Police Spokesman

21 February 2001

Government should move swiftly on digital interception

"Drug-pushing gangs are using the digital phone network and pre-paid phones to avoid police surveillance. Police have told the Government that this is a major problem. In response, the Government has set up another committee," National's Police spokesman Tony Ryall said today.

"The Government must wake up and get new legislation in place to fix this problem. They have a Telecommunications Bill coming into the House soon. Having a committee headed by Paul Swain to sort out Privacy Act issues is hopeless. These crooks don't need privacy, they need catching.

"Documents released under the Official Information Act show that Cabinet has been warned by Police that inaction is seeing their law enforcement capability 'seriously eroded'.

"Methamphetamine is an increasing problem throughout the country. This Government's cutbacks to front-line police and operating budgets are making it worse. I suspect the cutbacks mean that even if the legislation was passed, police would have no money to pay for the technology," Mr Ryall said.

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