The Police should have informed the Beehive

Stuff reported:

In July 2024 Zara*, a Wellington sex worker, had a sickening realisation when her client went to shower at the beginning of their session: his phone’s voice recorder was allegedly activated.

That client was Michael Forbes, who at the time was press secretary to Minister for Social Development Louise Upston, a former Minister for Women. In February this year he was appointed acting deputy chief press secretary to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Asked why it was decided no charges would be laid, Wellington District Manager Criminal Investigations, Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel, said, “ Police received a complaint from a Wellington brothel in July last year, after a client was found to have concerning images and recordings on his phone.

While the law may not have been broken, it is of course morally wrong to record someone having sex without their consent – even if it is audio, not video.

It is good that the Prime Minister acted so decisively, with Forbes exiting his role within hours of the PM being informed of what happened.

The bigger issue is why the Police didn’t notify the Beehive last July, as they should under the No Surprises policy. A press secretary for a front bench Minister under police investigation definitely is the sort of thing that should be notified to the Minister of Police.