National MP bypassed police over allegations

National MP Todd Barclay refused to speak to police about allegations he had secretly recorded conversations between staff in his electorate office, newly released documents show.

Prime Minister Bill English has brushed off the revelations from his former Clutha-Southland electorate, saying it is ‘‘time for everyone to move on’’.

Police announced in December that Barclay would not face charges over the allegations, as there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

However, a copy of the police investigation file released to media has shed new light on the investigations that took place.

Barclay’s Gore-based senior electorate agent Glenys Dickson resigned in February last year, with a party official citing an ‘‘employment problem’’ between the pair.

In March last year, Barclay said he had not spoken to the police regarding any complaint but would ‘‘co-operate fully’’ if they contacted him.

However, in a statement taken as part of the investigation, Detective Inspector Tony Hill said he had twice tried to speak to Barclay about the allegations in July last year without success after being asked to manage the case.

‘‘I subsequently received a call from Mr Barclay’s solicitor advising that he would not be making a statement in relation to this investigation,’’ Hill said in a statement.

The attempts to contact Barclay came after a number of interviews with the electorate staff and National Party officials to determine whether the first-term MP had illegally intercepted private communications in his office, using a Dictaphone.

In a statement to police on February 29, Dickson said she had been asked to stand down from her position following ‘‘employment issues which arose’’ after Barclay replaced English in the electorate.

After an employment lawyer started negotiating with the Parliamentary Service regarding her severance pay and conditions for leaving the job, she was ‘‘told about the recordings that Todd had’’.

She had ‘‘real concerns that some of my private conversations have been listened to and recorded’’.

In mid-January that year, Barclay had asked Dickson ‘‘if I realised that he could go to Spark and pay $5000 and get copies of my telephone conversations’’.

Dickson’s name was redacted from the police statement, but Fairfax has been able to confirm it was given by her.

Emails between police show they discussed complications with obtaining a search warrant for Barclay’s office at Parliament. A police spokesman said no warrant was ever obtained, because of insufficient evidence.

Asked about Barclay’s decision not to speak to police, English said it was ‘‘time for everyone to move on’’.

‘‘Oh look, that’s a matter that’s been resolved. It was an employment dispute, police have had a look at it, he’s been re-selected and I think that’s pretty much the end of it.’’

In an emailed statement, Barclay said his lawyer had been asked by police if he wanted to make a statement regarding the case.

‘‘We talked about it and decided to decline the police’s invitation, as is my right.’’

Police had looked into a complaint made by his former staffer and decided against taking action, which Barclay said was ‘‘the end of the matter for me’’.

‘‘I’ve got a great, loyal team working across my three electorate offices and I’m focused on moving forward and continuing to work hard supporting and representing the great people of Clutha-Southland.’’

In November, Barclay faced a selection challenge from former Merrill Lynch funds manager Simon Flood, who was understood to have been National’s preferred candidate in 2014 before withdrawing because of family reasons.

However, Barclay was reselected as National’s candidate in late December, saying he was ‘‘thrilled’’ and proud of what he had achieved in the electorate.