Ministers speak on police 'blacklist'

The reaction comes after Canterbury university criminologist and gang expert Dr Jarrod Gilbert exposed his police data ban. Photo / Getty

The row over police exerting controls over research has led to tertiary education minister Steven Joyce endorsing academic freedom and encouraging government agencies to be "as open with their data as is reasonably possible".

And government support minister Peter Dunne has also leapt into the fray, labelling the police position "absurd" and needing review.

The contract at the centre of the furore insists researchers accept police control over their work in return for access to information. While the contract talks about privileged information, it was applied to a basic data request for researchers studying crime patterns around licensed liquor outlets.

Researchers are told to allow police to help "improve" research which shows "negative results", with the threat of a possible "veto" on publication and a "blacklist" if they break the deal.

It was exposed by Canterbury university criminologist and gang expert Dr Jarrod Gilbert, who was told he was personally banned from the data because he had an "association with of gangs".

Mr Joyce and Mr Dunne are the first ministers to speak on the issued after police minister Michael Woodhouse labelled it an "operational" issue and refused to comment. Justice minister Amy Adams, who formulates policy based on crime data research, also would not comment.

Mr Joyce, who is also innovation minister, endorsed the role of academics, saying their legal responsibility role in the Education Act as "critic and conscience of society" would be unchanged in the current and future reviews of the legislation.

He also took Opposition politicians to task as being "mischievous and incorrect" over claims access had become restricted under a National government.

"There has also been no change in Government policy in regards to Government agencies supplying information to academics for research purposes. The same policies that apply now applied under previous Governments."

Mr Joyce said each agency would have a policy around access to sensitive information "but as Science and Innovation Minister and Tertiary Education Minister I'd encourage them to be as open with their data as is reasonably possible".

Mr Dunne, who is United Future leader, said he had written to Mr Woodhouse, asking that Police Commissioner Mike Bush be instructed to have the decision banning Dr Gilbert reviewed. Police have since confirmed it is currently under review, with Dr Gilbert being told next week whether the ban would be lifted.

He said the general constraint of researchers was "unacceptable". "The whole thing is absurd. I think the police need to review it."

Dr Gilbert said it was "nice" to hear ministers speak on the issue but he hoped Mr Woodhouse or Ms Adams would also express a view. "It's got huge policy implications and that should be addressed at a political level."

Police have stood by the contract, although said it is subject to "ongoing review".