Police have cultured this ‘problem’ just as they have Tasers and other escalations towards powers to which they are not entitled. (Hansard debate: Hon. Tom McGuigan, Minister of Health 1975 “Prevention of Misuse” Drug legislation).
Image by Stephen Witherden It has been suggested in other media that Police ‘are supporting’ calls for legislation. (see http://www.stuff.co.nz/4740997a4621.html)
This is disingenuous. The Police National Drug Intelligence have a “google” search watching what other countries are doing. It is obvious to anyone who also does this (like me) that Police follow international policing development with a ‘spin’ of their own within days of any international focus on issues. There is NO ANALYSIS – its just strategy development by following others. (Yabba/methamphetamine policy is such a case)
Image via WikipediaThe point is that some 1.3million or so cellphones were not used for any crime today… so why do Police wish to engineer a solution “to enhance the ability to fight crime” in areas where phone monitoring absent a warrant is, patently a breach of a right to privacy.
That the kind of crimes NZ police are ‘interested’ in surveiling are more often ‘consensual’ and ‘victimless’ relating to certain substances should hardly be surprising..
McGuigan was onto something!
Police should practice getting good at solving crimes.
They have been pretty lousy at predicting them.
Having (yet another) a list of a million citizens will only confuse them.
Slippery Internet Slopes: are we to ‘register’ anonymous email addresses with our community constable, and those who fail too, are they to be investigated for potential criminal activities. ??
Image by ToastyKen via Flickr
Its just the same “if you have nothing to hide’ argument pandering to the consent of the stupidly insular AND lacking ANY evidence it will produce an outcome for either the ‘investment’ or intrusion.
And all this while there is a Surveillance bill before the house… no mention of it though. Are the media stupid?
Blair Anderson
http://mildgreens.blogspot.com
MildGreens's Backup Blog 
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