NZ Herald
August 28 2004
Police-rape inquiry delayed
NZPA
The inquiry into police sexual
misconduct could be delayed for years, after being put on hold to avoid
conflict with any criminal proceedings.
The inquiry, which arose out of
allegations by Louise Nicholas of Rotorua and Judith Garrett of Kaitaia that they were raped by police officers in the 1980s,
yesterday announced that it had adjourned until October 22.
The inquiry into the way police
handled complaints of sexual abuse by officers over the past 25 years had been
expected to take three months.
However, it may not begin hearing
evidence until after any criminal proceedings have finished, which could take
years.
Inquiry commissioners Justice Bruce
Robertson and Dame Margaret Bazley said yesterday
that the hearing should be deferred until it was known whether police officers
would be charged.
The only evidence heard so far came
in May, from Police Commissioner Rob Robinson, who outlined the state of the
police investigation. But police have raised concerns that evidence heard by
the commission could contaminate a criminal trial.
The commission adjourned last month
after hearing submissions on whether it should hear evidence in public and
whether suppression orders could be made.
Lawyer Bruce Gray, who represented
the Herald at the commission, said it might not be possible for it to continue if
the criminal investigation dragged on. "It's regrettable the commission is
not able to do its work but its decision takes account of all of the competing
interests and is a sensible decision."
A spokesman for Mr
Robinson, John Neilson, said the criminal investigation, being carried out in
parallel not only with the inquiry into police conduct but also a Police
Complaints Authority investigation, was "still progressing".
"We haven't got anything
further around the criminal inquiry. We will get notified if there's any
likelihood there are any charges being laid but there is nothing at this
stage."
Mr Robinson said "exhaustive
inquiries" were being carried out in the criminal inquiry and police were
working "as quickly as possible to progress matters".
Attorney-General Margaret Wilson
said the request by the commission of inquiry to defer its report because of a
possible conflict with police inquiries was understandable.
The commission was set up after Mrs Nicholas alleged in January that three officers pack-raped
and violated her with a police baton in 1986 when she was 18. The men strongly
deny the allegations.
Ms Wilson said she would meet the
commissioners in October to assess progress in the police investigation. Mr Robinson said police remained committed to the inquiry.
This month, the commission was told
charges were to be laid against another former police officer, whose name is
suppressed until early October.