Call for commission of inquiry

Special police unit's activities described as well outside its brief- Civil Liberties wants commission of inquiry

21 December 2008
The tactics of the police Special Investigations Group are being likened to fascism. Auckland Council for Civil Liberties has joined calls for a commission of inquiry into the unit, which it says has been acting well outside its brief. President Barry Wilson says the SIG has been seen taking photographs of people at pickets and student demonstrations.

He says it has been snooping on peace groups and animal rights groups, which goes way beyond the bounds of national security. Barry Wilson says the idea people with nothing to hide have nothing to fear is the same logic used by people like Stalin to justify widespread monitoring of the public. He says the SIG was set up under the guise of protecting the country from terrorists, but now it is targeting any group it feels like targeting. Mr Wilson says the unit's activities are the start of a move down the slippery slope towards fascism.

The unit is also under fire from trade unions and lobby groups.

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