Newstalk ZB
April 17, 2004

Inquiry won't dig deep into police privacy


Rape inquiry will not dig too deep into private lives of police officers- commission has released its first ruling

The commission of inquiry into police conduct has indicated it will not delve too far into the private lives of police officers.

The commission has released its first ruling, outlining the definitions of sexual assault and unprofessional behaviour.

It has rejected submissions that it should confine its investigations to allegations of unlawful sexual conduct.

But it says it is not going to be involved with generalised questions of morality.

The commission says officers are free to engage in private sexual practices, providing they are lawful, and don't impact on their work.

The commission was set up following a complaint by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas that she was pack-raped by three police officers in the 1980s.