Police called off child porn swoop, says Coddington

Police were ready to swoop on 75 possible perverts believed to have received child porn but top brass called it off, Act MP Deborah Coddington said yesterday.

She questioned Police Minister George Hawkins in Parliament about how police had planned to visit people on a list provided by United States officials in September but police national headquarters called off the operation.

Ms Coddington said a reliable police source told her a team of police had been ready to question people on the list.

"There's 75 on the list, they had names, addresses, etc, and they are mystified as to why they were told to put it on hold for the time being and they haven't heard anything since."

Mr Hawkins said he had faith in how departments were handling the list and noted it was provided to New Zealand months after the Australians got it.

"I have full confidence the Department of Internal Affairs and police are working to successfully solve this matter," the minister said.

Perceived inaction over the list was publicised this month when Time magazine questioned if New Zealand was becoming a "haven for paedophiles".

The article came after US agents listed people who received child pornography by using their credit cards and traced them to countries including New Zealand and Australia.

- NZPA