KEY POINTS:
TVNZ has defended its actions in interviewing a rapist on the run, saying it only did so on condition he hand himself in to police afterwards.
Police have expressed anger that the network did not let officers know where John Clarke was before he turned up at Greymouth police station.
TVNZ showed pictures last night of Clarke attempting to hand himself in but having to wait about ten minutes for a police officer to arrive at the station.
A "decent sized" police investigation team was still hunting for the absconded rapist while a TVNZ news crew was interviewing him, Christchurch central police area commander Inspector Gary Knowles said.
The broadcaster said this morning that Clarke contacted them and they only agreed to do the interview on the condition he give himself up immediately afterwards.
"We arranged a rendevous in the vicinity of a police station accordingly," spokeswoman Megan Richards said.
"The interview went ahead on the condition if he did not give himself up immediately, we would ring police immediately."
Clarke was due to end his sentence next year for attacks on two women including the rape of a 15-year-old girl. He was released on home detention in preparation for his freedom.
He turned himself in to the police station last night -- with a TV news team in tow.
Mr Knowles told Radio New Zealand he was disappointed TVNZ did not at least give police a "heads up" to let them know Clarke was coming into the police station.
"A lot of time and effort and police resources were going into finding Mr Clarke," he said.
"We're not saying they had to say exactly where he was at the time, because obviously they wanted to conduct an interview, but I think a simple phone call to say 'look Gary, perhaps if you pull back some of your resources at 5 o'clock, this guy's going to give himself up'."
Mr Knowles said lawyers and journalists had given police similar courtesy calls in the past, without breaching the confidence of their clients or interviewees.
Trust was important between police and the media.
"It's a two way relationship, and obviously we bring them into our confidence, and we hope they do the same thing," he said.
He said he did not have a problem with Clarke having a chance to put his side of the story.
However, he had absconded from home detention, "which was a privilege, not a right", he was convicted of serious sexual charges, and police identified him as a threat to the public.
Absconded
A police investigation was launched after he absconded on Monday, with appeals to the public made for any sightings to be reported.
The Christchurch Press reported today Clarke had fled in a getaway car while two probation officers were visiting his house.
He was in the process of being recalled to prison for allegedly failing to attend a support group.
"He wandered in off the street with a TV film crew," Sergeant David Cross, of Greymouth, said.
"It was about 5.20pm. They were in a bit of a rush to get it on the 6 o'clock news."
In an article broadcast on TV One News, Clarke gave an explanation for his offending, saying he was suffering from "post traumatic stress syndrome" at the time.
He had been convicted in 1997 for abduction, rape, sexual violation, threatening to kill, indecent assault and injuring with intent.
The charges related to sex attacks on two women.
Mr Knowles said a "decent sized team" was on the investigation and a briefing had been held that day with about 50 staff.
He said he would be speaking with TVNZ today.
Canterbury University journalism lecturer Jim Tully said TVNZ should have acted as any good citizen, and put a call in to police.
"I can understand TVNZ knew they had a good story and it was one that they wanted to exploit to the full," he said.
"But there's also a duty to be a good citizen here, and if the media are asking the public to assist the police by reporting sightings of someone who is on the run, particularly someone who has absconded and has serious convictions, then I think at the very least they should have done what Gary's asking.
"That is a heads up to say look, we know where he is and he's going to be coming in at 5 o'clock or whatever.
"Then they've still got their story but they've also done what a good citizen should do and what they expect other good citizens to do."
Clarke is now in custody in Christchurch. He faces a Parole Board hearing to decide whether he will be recalled to prison to serve the rest of his sentence.
- NZPA
