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Allegations
of Abuse in NZ |
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The commission of
inquiry into police conduct has asked for a second time extension because of
a prolonged police investigation. The commission,
established last February in response to claims of police rape and cover-ups
made by Louise Nicholas and Judith Garrett, has been on hold since last
August. The commission decided
it should not proceed till police investigations had decided whether past and
present police officers should face criminal charges. As a result, it missed
its November reporting date stipulated in the terms of reference announced by
Prime Minister Helen Clark. The commission received
an extension till yesterday when, at a closed meeting, it decided a second
extension was needed. The commission
chairman, Justice Bruce Robertson, said it was an application of the
principles settled upon in August: that there was a "very real
risk" that police investigations could be contaminated by the commission
proceeding. Police have indicated
that a decision is imminent on whether to lay criminal charges against three
men accused of raping Louise Nicholas while serving police officers --
Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards and retired officers Bob
Schollum and Brad Shipton. But a police spokesman would not elaborate yesterday.
"No indication has
been given as to any decision on the investigation and we have not been given
any time line as to when this might take place," he said. Commission spokesman Robert Brewer
said a request for an extension till March 24 had been passed to the office
of Attorney-General Margaret Wilson. |
