Stuff
February 6, 2004

Southern police boss to head police rape investigation
NZPA

Southern police boss Superintendent Nick Perry is to head the criminal investigation into the historical rape allegations against three police officers.

Mr Perry, 52, will lead a team of 13 police staff. He will answer to deputy commissioner of operations Steve Long.

It is alleged three police officers, including assistant commissioner and Auckland police commander Clint Rickards, pack raped Louise Nicholas and violated her with a baton in Rotorua in 1986, when she was 18.

The two other men involved in the allegations - Tauranga city councillor Brad Shipton and Napier car dealer Bob Schollum - have since left the force.

All three men have vigorously denied the allegations.

Speaking from Wellington yesterday, where he will be based until the conclusion of the inquiry, Mr Perry said he learned he would be co-ordinating the inquiry last weekend and flew to the capital on Monday.

The rest of the inquiry team, from Southern, Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington districts, are all expected to be in Wellington by early next week.

"It will provide an interesting challenge," Mr Perry said.

"I have no idea at this stage how long I'll be here.

"At this stage I'm still assessing what lines of inquiry will need to be undertaken and making my way through files and other associated matters."

Despite the high level of public interest in the case, it was "just another criminal investigation", he said.

"We have these allegations and we'll be treating it with the seriousness such allegations deserve, just like any other case."

Mr Perry joined the police in 1970 and has had wide operational and management expertise, including five years as the Wellington city area controller, and periods with the CIB, the armed offenders squad and the anti-terrorist squad.