The Serious Fraud Office says it has closed its investigation relating to Thompson and Clark Investigations Ltd.

SFO Director Julie Read has determined that the high evidential standard for laying criminal charges has not been met.

The Ministry of Primary Industries referred the matter to the SFO last year after finding that official information had been inappropriately shared with TCIL.  

The SFO investigation focused on whether official information had been used in a corrupt way.

Findings by a State Services Commission inquiry into the use of external security consultants by government agencies were released on 18 December 2018.

Among other things, the inquiry found that two Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (now Ministry of Primary Industries) employees breached individual privacy and the code of conduct requirement to treat information with care. 

A Police investigation into a complaint by the State Services Commissioner relating to Thompson and Clark Investigations Limited (TCIL) was concluded earlier this year.

The complaint centred around allegations that TCIL employees had attended and unlawfully recorded closed meetings intended for Southern Response Earthquake Services claimants. The investigation found no evidence of criminal offending or unlawful conduct.