Allegations of Abuse in NZ
	Tim Ogle: Home "A trial that should never have happened" Page 1 - 2004/2005 (Pretrial)
	Otago Daily Times April 1, 2004 Legislation aimed at opening police authority files Submissions call on inquiry Bill NZPA Wellington: Parliament is calling for submissions on proposed legislation to allow a commission of inquiry, sparked by allegations of police pack rape, to see files covered by secrecy provisions in the law. The Government set up the commission to inquire into police conduct and procedure when receiving and investigating allegations of sexual assault made against members of the police or their associates. The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) Amendment Bill will introduce temporary provisions enabling the commission to fulfil its terms of reference by seeing PCA files on the matter. Parliament's law and order committee is calling for submissions on the Bill by April 14. The commission followed allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas she was raped in a police house in Rotorua in the 1980s. Ms Nicholas has alleged Clint Rickards, now a police assistant commissioner, and former police officers Brad Shipton and Bob Schollum pack raped her. The men have strongly denied the allegations. Mr Rickards has been stood down from his job as Auckland district police commander. A second allegation before the inquiry is that of Judith Garrett, who said she was raped by a constable at Kaitaia Police Station in 1988.