Collins demands spy facts

Police  Minister Judith Collins has asked Commissioner Howard Broad to explain claims that an anti-terrorist unit spied on protest groups, saying she would be concerned if law-abiding activists were under surveillance.

Green Party police spokesman Keith Locke called for an inquiry yesterday after a Sunday Star-Times report that the Special Investigation Group used a paid informant to keep tabs on Greenpeace and climate change, animal rights and anti-Iraq war activists.

Mr Locke accused the police of "Stasi tactics" and said they were wasting resources that could be used to fight crime.

Mrs Collins said she wanted to know the facts before deciding whether an inquiry was needed, but would be concerned if innocent people were being watched.

She has asked Mr Broad for a report at their weekly meeting today. "I would be very concerned if law-abiding groups and activities were being spied on."

The Sunday Star-Times reported that the SIG, set up in 2004 to combat terrorism, used Christchurch man Rob Gilchrist to pass on information about protest groups, including details of activists' personal lives and sexual relationships.

His alleged spying activities were uncovered after he asked his partner, animal rights and Labour Party activist Rochelle Rees, to help fix his computer.

He could not be contacted yesterday, but Ms Rees said she spotted e-mails to and from an anonymous address and tracked them to Christchurch police officers Detective Peter Gilroy and Detective Sergeant John Sjoberg.

She said the e-mails showed Mr Gilchrist was asked to pass on information on groups including Greenpeace, Peace Action Wellington, the Save Happy Valley Coalition, which opposes coal mining by state-owned Solid Energy, and an Auckland animal rights group.

She claimed Mr Gilchrist also offered information on unions, the Greens and the Workers Party, although there was no sign that police asked for it.

Mrs Collins said she wanted to know from Mr Broad what the previous government knew of SIG's activities and who it was watching. Former police minister Annette King said she had never been told what groups were under surveillance, and it would not have been her place to ask because of the operational independence of the police.

Greenpeace New Zealand executive director Bunny McDiarmid said it was a "tragic irony" that an anti-terrorist unit was spying on the group, which was the victim of state-sponsored terrorism by the French Government in 1985.

"It's just a stupid waste of taxpayers' money. It's ridiculous."

Save Happy Valley Coalition spokesperson Alan Liefting said it was inexcusable for police to spy on protest groups.

Mr Gilchrist previously worked with the group, and blew the whistle on efforts by private investigators to pay him for information about its plans.