Told you so

Missing file on offenders may have been found on street
The Corrections Department is investigating reports that a file containing personal information on high risk offenders was found on a street. Radio New Zealand News understands a member of the public may have found the file containing names and details of offenders. It is also reported to have had notes on pre-release problems, and addresses the offenders have been paroled to. The department says it is aware of the allegation, but cannot confirm whether it is true. But it does admit that a file is missing and says it is investigating how this occurred. The Corrections Deparment says it has referred the loss of the file to police who are helping them to recover it. It says it takes the matter seriously because there are security, public safety and privacy implications. In the meantime, it is appealing for anyone who has the list to act responsibly and return it to the department. Corrections Minister Phil Goff says the loss of the documents is of real concern, and warns that anyone who published the material would be breaking the law. Mr Goff says publication could compromise the way offenders on the list are managed on their release, and would stand in the way of efforts by the department to reintegrate people and prevent them re-offending.

I hear you loud and clear Phil, I've just had a very nice chat with the Police who have very politely asked for my assistance in the return of this very important file, so I think we can safely say the file is legit and that this is all pretty embarrassing for Corrections.

UPDATE:
File on high profile offenders found in street: report
Anyone with a file containing personal information on high risk offenders should 'act responsibly' and return it, says the Department of Corrections. Photo / Richard Robinson A file containing personal information on "high risk" and "high profile" offenders was found lying on the street.

Rehabilitation general manager Phil McCarthy said there was an "allegation" that a person has "unauthorised access to a list detailing high risk, high profile offenders."

"At this time we have no way of confirming if the allegation is true. However, initial investigations have found that a file is missing," Mr McCarthy said.

The incident is being investigated by police, he said.

"We are taking this matter seriously because it has security and privacy implications and the department is investigating the allegation as a matter of urgency," Mr McCarthy said.

The department asked that anyone with such a list "act responsibly" and return it.

Corrections Minister Phil Goff said it appeared the document, if what was claimed was true, was a list of high risk former offenders the department circulated with other agencies such as police to help prevent re-offending.

"It would be a concern to me if that list was either leaked or lost and was misused, because if it were misused the considerable efforts police and corrections make to minimise the risk of people re-offending would be undermined," he told reporters.

"We know that when you have close attention on these people and they are destabilised the risks of re-offending by them are increased."

He said if someone had the list, they should return it.

Mr Goff said he was yet to receive a briefing from his department on the matter.

- with NZPA