Allegations of Abuse
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Prime
Minister Helen Clark is urging anyone else with a complaint against the
police involving sexual misconduct to come forward quickly if they want it
considered by the approaching commission of inquiry. "People
should come forward as quickly as possible so the commission can get on with
its work," she said yesterday after announcing the two presiding
commissioners. The
Government selected Justice Bruce Robertson of the High Court at The
commissioners will be able to extend their inquiries beyond the cases already
in the public domain, Helen Clark said. "There
may well be more and they must be able to inquire into like incidents because
we are endeavouring to see whether there is a systemic problem here." The
commission was ordered after claims by Louise Nicholas that police staff in
Rotorua subjected her to sexual assaults between 1980 and 1986 and that a
police investigation was mishandled. Assistant
Commissioner Clint Rickards is one of three officers accused of pack rape in
1986 and has been stood down from his Further
allegations have been made, including one by Judith Garrett, who took an
unsuccessful private prosecution alleging she was raped in 1988 by a
constable at the Kaitaia police station. And
last week, former Rotorua CIB chief John Dewar, who investigated Mrs
Nicholas' complaint, was accused by a woman of having taken part in group sex
with one of the former officers named in the Nicholas complaint, Brad
Shipton. The
police have begun their own investigations into the complaints separate from
the commission. The terms of reference are expected to be finalised within
days. The
commission of inquiry has been given nine months to hold its hearings and
report back. "Better
to do it properly than a rush job which leaves the public unsatisfied,"
Helen Clark said. "I
imagine they will go about it with all due speed because the police don't
want allegations hanging around longer than necessary." She
defended the length of time for the report, saying it was best done properly
to ensure the public could have confidence in the police. "The
public must be assured that the police will thoroughly investigate any
allegations of criminal behaviour by their own personnel. "If
the allegations that have been made indicate that there are systemic
problems, they will be identified and dealt with." The
commissioners will be able to set their own rules but the Prime Minister
expected that evidence would be heard in public as it had been with other
commissions. The
experience of Justice Robertson, who chairs the Law Commission, meant that
"the line between the commission of inquiry and criminal investigation
by the police isn't overstepped", the PM said. The
commissioners will be able to trawl through police records but under the law
they will not be able to review the record of the Police Complaints Authority.
The
Government will also put on hold legislation proposing the renaming of the
Police Complaints Authority - possibly to add further amendments should the
commission of inquiry deem it necessary. Heading
the commission of inquiry JUSTICE
BRUCE ROBERTSON *
Turned 60 on Sunday. *
President of the Law Commission. *
High Court Judge since 1987. *
Presided over the second trial of David Dougherty which cleared him of the
rape of an 11-year-old girl for which he had been wrongly convicted. *
Ruled that the public had a right to know TVNZ paid $5.6 million compensation
to its former newsreader John Hawkesby, as well as ruling that newspapers had
the right to publish the name of the policeman who shot Steven Wallace dead
in Waitara. *
Lives in Remuera, Auckland DAME
MARGARET BAZLEY *
Aged 66. *
Long public service career, including stints as social development ministry
chief executive and transport secretary. *
Has held the positions of acting chief executive, Department of Work and
Income; chairwoman, NZ Fire Service Commission; chief executive, Ministry of
Social Policy; Director-General, Social Welfare; Secretary for Transport;
deputy chairwoman, State Services Commission. *
Lives in
Police
under investigation stemming from Louise Nicholas' original pack-rape
allegations. 1.
Government-ordered commission of inquiry To
be conducted by Justice Bruce Robertson and Dame Margaret Bazley. They have
until the end of November to complete their inquiries. 2.
Police criminal inquiry Police
say this is solely looking for any criminal liability. It is no different to
any other criminal inquiry into historic rape allegations. It is being
overseen by Deputy Commissioner Steve Long with one of the country's top
detectives, Superintendent Nick Perry. Officers
from outside the Rotorua district have already interviewed 30 people. 3.
Police Complaints Authority This
independent body has "civilian oversight" of the police investigation.
They can make suggestions if they think it is necessary. Authority Judge Ian
Borrin says although it is unusual for them to be so closely involved with an
active criminal inquiry, Mrs Nicholas' allegations have "a high profile,
historic nature and very serious content".
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