Environment commission investigated

Press, 22 January 1982, Page 7

Environment commission investigated

PA Wellington Some staff of the Commission for the Environment have had their fingerprints

taken as part of an investigation into a leak of Cabinet documents last year. The fingerprinting was done before Christmas, but the detective making the inquiry would not say if his investigations were finished. Detective Senior-Sergeant Bill Bishop, of the Wellington " C. 1.8.. issued a brief state- ’ ment on his inquiry and said some staff members from \ the commission had been i

asked for their fingerprints, i Mr Bishop said he had | reported some time ago to 1 the secretary of the Cabinet. | Mr Patrick Millen, who had | laid the complaint with the ' police about the alleged leak. Commission staff were also unwilling to comment. The commission’s Public Service Association delegate, and the investigating officer. Mr Ken Murray, would not comment either, but the president of the association. Mr D. H. Thorp, said he was disturbed about the procedure adopted by the police. Mr Thorp said the investigation should have been conducted under the terms of the State Services Act. which provided adequate provisions for disciplinary action. The chairman of the Slate Service Commission. Dr Mervyn Probine, said the police had been called in by Mr Millen because he saw it.as a matter for the police. He agreed the matter could have also been investi- 1 gated under the State Ser- |

vices Act. but normally these procedures were reserved for matters of internal discipline. Dr Probine said he had written to the Commission for the Environment before Christmas, pointing out that members were not obliged to give their fingerprints. But he said the letter had also encouraged people to cooperate with the police.