Earlier this week, this newspaper commended the choices made by the police to secure the return of the medals stolen from the Waiouru Army Museum in December.
Their decision-making stressed, quite rightly, the importance of having the treasured Victoria Crosses and other medals back in safekeeping, even if the payment of a reward to the thieves left a sickening taste. As more details have emerged, however, that deal is looking more unpalatable and less and less a necessary evil.
It has emerged that Daniel Crichton, a leading gang figure, was granted bail on serious drugs charges after acting as the conduit to the thieves while in Mt Eden Prison. That creates considerable unease. Using a prisoner's freedom as a bargaining chip is altogether more unsavoury than the payment of reward money.
Police should be playing it straight in such dealings with criminals, particularly one who is alleged to have been a passenger in a car in which a box containing 81g of methamphetamine and $96,000 was found.
The National Party has condemned the deal, saying public safety has been put at risk. It is right. More than that, the granting of bail places the whole deal beyond the pale. It adds absolutely nothing in terms of reassurance to be told this contorted, American-style bargaining is becoming relatively common.
