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Allegations
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Police bosses and the
Police Association have hit back at claims that prisoners are routinely
photographed while being humiliated by officers, and have strongly denied
police culture is "sick". But Green MP Keith
Locke said the practice, which he likened to the photographs taken of
American soldiers torturing prisoners in Iraq's Abu Gharib prison, could be a
sign of a wider problem within the force and has called for an independent
inquiry. South Auckland senior
sergeant Anthony Solomona was found guilty on Wednesday of assaulting a
17-year-old at an Auckland service station in February last year. During the trial
unusual police practices were revealed, including young suspects photographed
wearing demeaning signs -- one read "I belong to Senior Sergeant
Solomona" -- and the coercion of apology letters from suspects. A photograph of a
balaclava-clad person dressed in police uniform holding a machete and an axe
and making death threats was shown. Sergeant John Nelson
told the court it was common police practice to photograph prisoners being
humiliated by officers. The evidence drew a scathing view of police culture
from Judge Bruce Davidson, who condemned it as "sick". Mr Locke said the
revelations could be part of a bigger issue of such behaviour being tolerated
by police officers. "Humiliating
people in photographs like that does illustrate a state of mind that
prisoners don't really have rights, or a state of arrogance and superiority,
and we don't want that in our police force." But police were quick
to defend themselves yesterday, insisting the incident was isolated. Counties-Manukau police
district commander Superintendent Steve Shortland said he was appalled by the
behaviour of the officers involved, who represented a small group of officers
in Wiri prior to March last year, and vowed to thoroughly investigate the
incidents. Assistant Commissioner
Peter Marshall said he had accepted Mr Shortland's request for support from
outside the district to lead the investigation. Acting Commissioner
Steve Long was talking with the Police Complaints Authority about how it
could include an independent component. Police Commissioner Rob Robinson is
overseas and could not comment. Police Association
president Greg O'Connor said the association "absolutely rejected"
the idea such behaviour was widespread in police and said Judge Davidson's
comments would have hurt a lot of officers. In court on Wednesday
Judge Davidson ruled Solomona had gone overboard in arresting Angelo Turner
for repeatedly using "a common swear word" after Solomona drove
into his car. "I can see nothing
that Mr Turner had done to justify his arrest for breach of the peace,"
he said. Judge Davidson did not
enter a conviction against Solomona, after agreeing to allow his counsel,
John Haigh, QC, the opportunity to file submissions for a discharge without
conviction. The matter will return
to Manukau District Court next week. Solomona was acquitted
on three further assault charges, and one charge of assault with a weapon. He
is currently suspended from his job. |
