Police watch on Whale Oil blog

Police are keeping a watch on the controversial blog of Cameron Slater and they have referred his latest moves to Crown solicitors in Auckland.

The Solicitor General yesterday said he would not be pursuing charges against Mr Slater for his Whale Oil blog, which revealed the name of an alleged child sex offender by writing it in binary code.

The alleged offender is a national figure who was granted temporary name suppression when he appeared in the Nelson District Court last week. The man faces charges of indecently assaulting a 13-year-old girl. He allegedly touched the girl's breasts and genitals on December 30.

Mr Slater is already before the courts on four counts of breaching suppression orders and one count of publishing information which could lead to the victim of a crime being identified.

This morning, Nelson Bays Police Area Commander Detective Inspector John Winter said the Solicitor-General had invited police to consider whether further charges should be brought against Mr Slater under the Criminal Justice Act.

Mr Winter said he had been in contact with the Auckland Police, and that the matter would be referred to them for consultation with the Crown Solicitor in Auckland.

He said Police would continue to monitor Slater's website for any additional breaches.

Mr Winter said Mr Slater's actions appeared to be in defiance of a court order, were irresponsible and could lead to the identification of the victim that the order was intended to protect.

Solicitor General David Collins said he supported the action taken by police.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister John Key voiced his disapproval for Mr Slater's tactics.

He said the issue of name suppression for high profile New Zealanders "may well be in need of change" and that Justice Minister Simon Power would be working on potential changes this year.

"But it's also my view that if somebody doesn't like a law then they are free to advocate for change and to express their concerns, but they can't take the law in to their own hands and that applies equally to Cameron Slater as it does to every other New Zealander," Mr Key said.