The Dominion Post
April 1, 2004
Submissions open for police bill
The public are
being asked for thoughts on the Police Complaints Authority (Commission of
Inquiry into Police Conduct) Amendment Bill.
The bill changes the Police Complaints Authority Act 1988.
It allows the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct to fulfil its terms of
reference to look into the adequacy of investigations carried out by police on
behalf of the Police Complaints Authority into allegations of sexual assault by
police and their associates.
The bill amends the secrecy provisions of the act so the commission of inquiry
is not prevented from getting all of the information it needs.
It would throw open thousands of files witnesses were previously assured would
be kept secret.
The commission of inquiry was launched after allegations by Louise Nicholas
that she was raped in 1986 by two former officers, Bob Schollum and Brad
Shipton, and
The closing date for public submissions on the bill is April 14 and the date
for reporting the bill to the House is May 3.