Stuff
February 5, 2004
More rape claims against police officers emerge
NZPA
Further claims of
rape by police officers were surfacing today following the Government's
decision to order a commission of inquiry into the handling of pack-rape
allegations.
National Radio reported that an Auckland Sexual Abuse Help Foundation
counsellor knew of four cases in the past 18 months of rape complaints against
police that did not make it to court.
Counsellor Caroline Day said at least one woman was persuaded by police that
her claim would not stand up in court.
"It's a harrowing court system to put anyone through," she said.
"My understanding is that, on at least one occasion, there has been a bit
of dissuasion about taking this case forward, as in police advising, 'Look,
this isn't going to stand up'."
Former Police Association secretary Bob Moodie said
he knew of another case involving a female police officer who did not pursue
her claim of rape by a male colleague.
The reason was that she had no confidence in any subsequent investigation.
"I know of a case where a woman police officer was raped by a CIB
officer," Dr Moodie told National Radio.
"She never complained. She couldn't complain. She wouldn't complain and
the reason she wouldn't is because she had no confidence her complaint would
ever be investigated and she knew that she would be a greater casualty and a
bigger victim of the situation than she actually was."
Prime Minister Helen Clark announced the commission of inquiry on Tuesday after
claims that Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas was pack-raped by three police
officers in 1986 when she was 18.
All three have strenuously denied the allegations.
One of the three,
The commission will also consider wider issues within the police force.
Miss Clark said yesterday that another case of alleged rape, in Northland 16
years ago, was the "final straw" when she considered the Government's
response to Mrs Nicholas' claims.
Details of Judith Garrett's case were sent to Miss Clark after Mrs Nicholas'
allegations were made public at the weekend.
"Believe me, what was sent to me... my hair stood on end," she said.
Miss Clark said the two cases raised questions about the culture within the
police and the conduct of individual officers and whether the course of justice
had been perverted.
"The question which is on everyone's mind is what were
the prevailing standards of police behaviour where group sex with
relatively young women was not considered a matter of concern to the
employer?"
Mrs Garrett, 60, is also calling for police to re-open a criminal investigation
into her complaint that a Kaitaia constable
handcuffed and raped her in the town's police station in March 1988.
The officer admitted having sex with her, but said it was consensual.
In 1994, Mrs Garrett took a private prosecution against the Attorney-General,
alleging a police cover-up.
Despite finding that the initial investigation had not been carried out
properly, a High Court jury at Whangarei ruled
against her on the basis that the investigating officer had not been motivated
by malice.
Mrs Garrett said she was shocked by the similarities between her experience and
that of Mrs Nicholas.
"I feel that the public have absolutely no idea of what happens within the
police force and they should be informed."
Police national headquarters spokesman Jon Neilson said historical cases
relevant to that of Mrs Nicholas, including Ms Garrett's, would be reviewed as
part of a reopened criminal investigation into Mrs Nicholas' allegations.
Deputy Commissioner Steve Long would make decisions about any matters that
appeared to warrant future action, Mr Neilson said.