The Dominion Post
February 2, 2004
Rickards stands aside
by Haydon Dewes
Assistant Commissioner Clint Rickards has stood down as
Auckland police commander while his bosses and the Government decide how
official inquiries will be pursued into rape allegations against him and two
other men.
Prime Minister Helen Clark and Police Commissioner Rob Robinson have both
undertaken to investigate allegations reported in The Dominion Post on Saturday
that three police officers – including Mr Rickards – pack-raped Rotorua woman
Louise Nicholas and violated her with a police baton in a Rotorua house in
1986.
The other two men named by Mrs Nicholas have since left the force. They are Tauranga city councillor Brad Shipton and Napier car dealer
Bob Schollum. All three have issued statements denying the allegations.
Mrs Nicholas, who was 18 at the time, alleges her original complaint in 1993
was not properly investigated and she was manipulated by another police
officer.
In a brief statement yesterday, Mr Rickards, who joined the force in 1982 at
the age of 18, said he had volunteered to take three weeks' leave from the
He was pleased Mr Robinson was holding an inquiry into the allegations, after
which he expected to resume normal duties.
"I will be cooperating fully with the inquiry and look forward to the
false and destructive allegations made . . . being resolved once and for
all."
Mr Robinson met Police Minister George Hawkins at Parliament last night to
brief him on the police response to the allegations. Neither would comment
afterwards.
Mr Robinson said he was limited as to what he could say publicly about the
allegations and the resolution of the original complaints. Some confusion had
arisen in the public mind as to the issues that required examination.
Police clarification had been "hampered" by the fact that the media
had not outlined all allegations. He wanted media to table all information they
were holding to ensure any investigation was properly informed.
He outlined last night the direction of the investigation.
"The review will be complex as the historical inquiries will be
multi-faceted. The first objective is to understand all these complexities and
assess them. When the full extent of the allegations is known I will be able to
determine whether a new investigation will be launched," he said.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Long has been directed to bring together a group of
senior investigators to assemble all the files held in relation to complaints
made by Mrs Nicholas, the investigations into those complaints and other
records relating to people involved in the matters.
Southern District commander Superintendent Nick Perry has been appointed to the
investigative team, with other appointments pending.
The terms of Mr Long's review will be finalised early
this week in consultation with the Police Complaints Authority. The authority
will oversee the inquiry.