View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
August 1, 2002updated 17 May 2007 11:30am

Sun web naming of ‘kidnap’ barrister sparks row in NZ

By Press Gazette

Sun: website can be accessed in New Zealand

An English barrister facing kidnapping charges in New Zealand is now at the centre of a press freedom battle after he, his two co-accused and the man who was allegedly their intended victim were named on The Sun website.

The battle has major implications for the media worldwide.

It focuses on the question of the effectiveness of gagging orders when public access to overseas websites is so commonplace.

Gagging orders had been imposed in New Zealand banning the naming of barrister John Burrett – though the orders on him have now been lifted – the two co-accused and the millionaire said to have been the intended victim of the alleged kidnap plot.

But The Sun named them in the UK and on the paper’s website, which can be accessed in New Zealand.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

This sparked a furore among the country’s media, which campaigned to get the bans lifted.

While New Zealanders cannot read the names of those accused in their own media, they can log on to the internet and instantly find out who they are. The problem is one that is cropping up increasingly since the advent of the internet.

After The Sun’s story last week, the influential Dominion Post wrote: "Millions of Britons know the identity of the three men and the Wellington businessman they allegedly planned to kidnap but New Zealand media cannot publish the names."

They had been gagged by a High Court "suppression order" banning identification.

Later, when Burrett, who was mauled by police dogs during his arrest, appeared in court to be charged with attempting to kidnap, attempting to commit a crime while armed, conspiring to kidnap, intending to confine and conspiring to kidnap intending to obtain a ransom, no further moves were made for him to maintain anonymity.

However, name suppression orders were sought and granted in respect of the two other Britons charged with him.

Detective Inspector Norm Cook, head of Operation Mist which led to the arrest of Burrett and the other two Britons, has gone on record saying he is "disappointed" that the New Zealand media are attempting to overturn the suppression orders as he considered it was a move to "undermine" the police.

He said that police will investigate how The Sun obtained its information and that New Zealand’s Crown Prosecutor is looking at the situation.

 

By Roger Pearson

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network