Wanganui: inquiry to be held

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 1

Wanganui: inquiry to be held

By

PETER COMER

The Privacy Commissioner of the Wanganui computer, Mr Paul Molineaux, will make his own inquiry into allegations of widespread misuse of the computer. Mr Molineaux said yesterday that the inquiry would not be public, but that he would report his findings to Parliament. A retired police sergeant told “The Press” last week that unofficial use of the computer was fairly common, and ranged from finding out the names of attractive women seen in cars to supplying information to vehicle repossession agents.

His allegations drew widespread publicity and comments from the police hierarchy and politicians. After being interviewed by a senior Christchurch detective at his home last Friday, the former sergeant said he hoped what he had told the police might help any inquiry that resulted from his allegations. The police have not announced any form of internal inquiry.

Mr Molineaux said that as Privacy Commissioner, he intended to instigate

his own investigation under Section 9 of the Wanganui Computer Centre Act. “The inquiry arises out of recent allegations purported to have been made by a former police sergeant, as reported in ‘The Press’ that police misuse of the Wanganui Computer system is fairly common, or, as he is reported as saying, happens all the time,” said Mr Molineaux. The two matters for Inquiry were: • "The allegation that retrievals of information were frequently being made by some members of the police for private purposes. • “The allegation that access into the computer system is possible by the use of false identifications, leading to the inference that this, in fact, was being done by some members of . the police.”

Section 9 of the act provides that the Privacy Commissioner may, among other things, conduct an inspection and audit of the computer centre and the computer system and its working at any time. The act also states that the inquiry will be in private. “ .