NZOOM - ONE News - Politics

Police get new powers

New Zealand Pollice have new powers to intercept communication and deal with terrorist acts in New Zealand. The law needed some updates to comply with UN regulations.

"The new offences include improperly dealing with nuclear or radioactive material or unmarked plastic explosives; contaminating food, water or other products intended for human consumption; infecting animals with the intention of causing serious harm to animal populations and damage to the national economy; harbouring or concealing a terrorist; threatening major harm to persons, property or the national economy; or making malicious hoaxes.

With penalties for certain acts being increased from 3 months maximum jail sentence now to 10 years and half million dollar fines, a clear signal from the Government that it plans to deal with terrorism as a matter of criminal law.

"The use of tracking devices under the Act, where a breach of the law is needed to put them in place, will be limited to Police and Customs. Safeguards include the need for a judicial warrant requirement in all but emergency situations, and requirements to report on the extent to which such devices are used.

"Evidence of serious criminal offending lawfully obtained by an interception warrant will be admissible, even if the warrant was issued in relation to a different offence.

"Police will also have the power to require assistance from a person where necessary, such as providing passwords to access computers, but the assistance must be both reasonable and necessary. A judicial warrant is required.

See also:
Beehive
NZOOM - ONE News - Politics