Stuff
February 6, 2004
Police told to keep mum about culture in the force
NZPA
Police have been
told to close ranks to media asking questions following historical rape
allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas.
Staff had been told not to talk about the culture in the force in the past, and
police national headquarters general manager of public affairs Michael Player
had sent staff a memo saying they should not respond to any media requests for
information about what their working lives were like in past decades.
Mr Player told staff not to speak about any of the issues raised by Mrs
Nicholas' case, but particularly police culture.
The memo follows intense media interest in former police culture after Ms
Nicholas alleged she had been pack raped by three police officers and violated
with a baton in Rotorua in 1986, when she was 18.
The three men involved, assistant commissioner and Auckland police commander
Clint Rickards, Tauranga city councillor Brad Shipton and Napier car dealer Bob
Schollum have vigorously denied the allegations.
Mr Rickards has been stood down on full pay while the claims are investigated.
Southern police boss Superintendent Nick Perry is to head the criminal
investigation. He will lead a team of 13 police staff and will answer to deputy
commissioner of operations Steve Long.
Prime Minister Helen Clark has also announced a commission of inquiry will look
at the claims and will also consider wider issues within the police force.
Further claims of rape by police officers surfaced yesterday following
publicity about the allegations.
An Auckland Sexual Abuse Help Foundation counsellor said she knew of four cases
in the past 18 months of rape complaints against police that did not make it to
court.
Former Police Association secretary Bob Moodie said
he also knew of another case involving a female police officer who did not
pursue her claim of rape by a male colleague.
"She wouldn't complain and the reason she wouldn't is because she had no
confidence her complaint would ever be investigated," he said.
Dr Moodie believed police culture had improved in
recent years.
"The attitude of young males towards women was different. We were like
young bulls in a paddock."
Police Association president Greg O'Connor agreed the
culture had changed and said there was greater accountability.