21 Dec 2009

No complaints yet over online suppression breach

4:43 pm on 21 December 2009

Police have not received any complaints relating to a breach of a suppression order in the case of a comedian charged with sexually abusing a child.

The man was granted name suppression in Auckland District Court last week, but his name has subsequently been published online.

The case is just the latest in a long line of website breaches of suppression orders.

The issue was considered again at a conference last month, but Frank March who heads the umbrella group, Internet New Zealand, says there really is no way of policing every website to ensure name suppression is not breached online.

The Solicitor-General attended last month's conference - about name suppression in the internet age - but his office says any breaches of suppression orders are usually handled by police.

An Auckland police spokesperson says she is unaware of any complaints having been filed relating to this case.

The comedian will reappear in court next month.