Govt. May Forbid Action In Police Radio Calls

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30231, 9 September 1963, Page 5

Govt. May Forbid Action In Police Radio Calls

[From Our Parliamentary Reporter)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 6. The Commissioner of Police (Mr C. L. Spencer) was considering whether any amendmenits should be made to the Police Offences Act or the Post Office Act to prohibit people taking action on information they have gained from listening to police radio messages, the Minister of Police (Mr Eyre) told Parliament today. » Mr W. W. Freer (Opp.. Mount Albert) said it should be made illegal for anyone to use information they received from police broadcasts.

Mr Freer said it was a ' habit in Auckland for a firm ; engaged in photography to i answer calls going over the • police radio and for a man I of the firm to arrive at the scenes of accidents or crimes before the police.

An- Auckland daily newspaper also listened to police broadcasts. “I’ve one instance where the arrival of the photographer and the representatives of the press at an accident were a nuisance to the police,’’ said Mr Freer. Mr Freer suggested it. should be made illegal for anyone to use information they received from the broadcasts.

“We should be able to stop them acting on these broadcasts—their presence at the scene of a crime should be enough for the police to take action,” he said.