Irony

An Auckland police commander was so frustrated with police leaking material to the media that he sent a memo telling his staff to dob in the "traitors". It was of course leaked to the media...

But besides the obvious humour value, the police obviously do not understand that these sorts of leaks are essential in a democracy. Without them we would not learn about malfeasance, stupidity, or the frontline effects of government policies and would therefore have far fewer opportunities to correct them. Instead, those we trust with government would be left to police themselves - and the "success" of the police in doing that shows exactly why we should treat the idea with suspicion...