Sunday Star Times
November 7 2004

$183,000 inquiry a waste, says QC
by Rachel Grunwell

Top QC Peter Williams says the commission of inquiry into police conduct over the past two decades has wasted $183,000 of taxpayers' money by starting too early.

The commission of inquiry - begun in March after historic rape allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas - is on hold until February. That month a separate police investigation - started last February - is due to decide whether past or present officers should face criminal charges.

Williams said it was outrageous the commission of inquiry had been operating at all while police were investigating the possibility of criminal charges.

"The whole thing is a shambles," said Williams.

Any former or current officer involved would have been advised by lawyers not to take part in the commission of inquiry if criminal charges could later be laid against them and evidence used, Williams said.

Internal Affairs spokesman Colin Feslier said according to his department's annual report, the commission of inquiry would have cost about $183,000 up to July this year.

Costs included wages for High Court judge Bruce Robertson and former public servant Margaret Bazley, as well as investigators' costs, computers and rent for the commission's headquarters.

Meanwhile, 19 police officers are into their tenth month investigating whether charges should be laid in several cases against current and past officers accused of rape.

The Sunday Star-Times understands the police case, which at stages involved 25 investigators interviewing hundreds of witnesses in several different cases, has also been costly.

Police, including several from Wellington and the South Island, have been flown around the country to do interviews, with accommodation, flights and allowances costs mounting. It is understood some officers' family members have travelled to see them while they worked.

The Star-Times estimates police wages on the cases alone so far would be well in excess of $1 million.

Police headquarters spokesman Jon Neilson refused to give cost details or comments until inquiries were completed.

A police source, who did not wish to be named, said the investigators were taking their time, being meticulous about their inquiries and were cautious about laying charges in the Nicholas case. If charges were laid, the case would have to be watertight because of the huge public scrutiny the inquiries could come under.

Nicholas alleges she was pack-raped and violated with a police baton at a Rotorua police house in the 1980s. She claims the incident was covered up by a senior officer.

The accused are assistant police commissioner Clint Rickards and two former officers, Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton, who all say they had consensual sex with Nicholas and deny rape.