Stuff
February 16, 2004

Police ready for whatever rape inquiry throws up - Robinson
NZPA

Police say they are ready to confront any further issues kicked up by investigations into historic rape allegations against a number of police officers, Commissioner Rob Robinson said today.

His comments follow the standing down at the weekend of Waikato district commander, Superintendent Kelvin Powell, the second district commander to be relieved of his post.

Police have described Mr Powell as "an individual of interest" in their investigation of historic rape claims made by a Rotorua woman, Louise Nicholas.

Mrs Nicholas has alleged that she was raped in a police house in Rotorua in the 1980's by Auckland police commander, assistant commissioner Clint Rickards and two former officers, Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton. All three have strenuously denied the claims.

Mr Rickards has also been stood down from his job.

Mr Robinson told National Radio today he was not sure where the inquiry, headed by deputy commissioner Steve Long, would ultimately go.

"What I can say, however, is wherever that is we will confront whatever issues it kicks up. If any of those matters are allegations of criminal behaviour we'll act on that," he said.

Mr Long also would not say why the inquiry team was interested in Mr Powell, because he did not want to prejudice the overall investigation.

Mr Robinson reopened the police investigation after Mrs Nicholas alleged she had been pack-raped in a Rotorua house in 1986.

Mr Robinson said today he had spent a few months in Rotorua in late-1985, returning from leave without pay, after a Rotorua surgeon reconstructed his knee.

He said there might be matters the investigation wanted to raise with him.

"There are no matters that I'm aware of at this time that might touch me but then again the fact I was there for a few months, there may be some potential matters that arise that I can clarify."

He did not think that made his position difficult.

"If at any stage it does then I think we will deal with that and I will simply cut off my links," Mr Robinson said.

"The one thing we are aware of is that Steve Long has his own. . .. . . authority under his warrant from the Governor-General. He has no direct links to me for his authority, he has that himself, to pursue any criminal matters or other matters."

Mr Robinson said he had spent some time in the past 10 days with staff around some of the districts and they were "a little shocked and also saddened" by the allegations that have come forward.

"But certainly I think there is a real resolve to reassure the public just by getting on and doing our job," Mr Robinson said.

"There are some barbs and some sarcastic comments being levelled at operational staff as they go about their duties. . . unfortunately that is a little bit of the environment that we sometimes have to operate in.

"They are personalised somewhat at the moment and I'm just asking my staff to be the professionals they are, let those things pass them by," Mr Robinson said.