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Duelling opinion pieces have been published this morning about the standoff between police and Stuff, after the news website posted police audio from the night fugitive dad Tom Phillips was shot dead. In a rare move, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has explained the fears police had over the radio communications being heard by the public; in response the website's editor in chief has shot back outlining his rationale. RNZ is publishing both pieces in full below.
By Police Commissioner Richard Chambers
In September, I instructed police to investigate taking legal action against a media outlet over its use of police radiocommunications audio from the night a police officer was shot, and Tom Phillips died.
The legal opinion we received stated there was a clear case of a breach of the Radiocommunications Act in the use of the audio - and that if police opted to prosecute it would meet both the evidential and public interest thresholds required to do so.
Police has opted not to prosecute, but that should not be taken as meaning this is seen as a trifling matter. It is a very serious issue. However, I can see little benefit in dragging this into the courts if there are other ways to achieve the main aim - which is to ensure there is no repeat. Should this happen again, this position on the option of legal action may change.
It continues to concern me that the media outlet made such use of the material.
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