Allegations of abuse
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Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 6 - Further Reaction to
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Annette King Police say posters posing as
police recruitment advertising are offensive to them and to rape and sexual
assault victims. The posters which recently
appeared around Former policemen Brad Shipton and
Bob Schollum, and Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards were acquitted
by a jury last week on charges of kidnapping and indecently assaulting a
then-16-year-old girl more than 20 years ago. Last year the same three men were
acquitted of historic sex charges against Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas.
Shipton and Schollum are already in prison for a different rape -- of a There has been a public outcry
since that information was made public after court suppression orders were
lifted. Superintendent Grant O'Fee said these
were difficult days for police. "Regardless of what views
some people may have about recent events, the continual parodying will take
its toll on our frontline staff who every day and night are serving the
community. "Police are appealing to the
wider Mr O'Fee said the vast majority of
police officers were still working, as they always had, often under
tremendous pressure, for the good of all New Zealanders. The current climate did not make
this any easier for individual officers, he said. Police Minister Annette King also
leapt to the defence of police saying the posters were a "slur" on
their reputation. Ms King said the poster, which
appeared today at Wellington Railway Station, was unfair, ugly and vicious. "I'm asking the people who
put up this poster to think about the huge majority of decent police staff
whom they are damaging and hurting by their ill-considered actions," she
said. Former policemen Brad Shipton and
Bob Schollum, and Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards were acquitted
by a jury last week on charges of kidnapping and indecently assaulting a
then-16-year-old girl more than 20 years ago. Last year the same three men were
acquitted of historic sex charges against Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas. Shipton and Schollum are already
in prison for a different rape -- of a Ms King said it was important to
note that the people who had brought the prosecution against the three men
were police themselves. Superintendent Grant O'Fee,
district commander for Tasman and speaking on behalf of his Police Executive
colleagues, said the posters were offensive to victims of rape and sexual
abuse and to members of the police. He conceded these were difficult
days for NZ police and added: "Regardless of what views some people may
have about recent events, the continual parodying will take its toll on our
frontline staff who every day and night are serving the community. "Police are appealing to the
wider The poster comes as police are
trying to recruit enough staff to fill the 1000 extra positions promised as
part of New Zealand First's support agreement with Labour. Opposition MPs say the recruitment
drive is failing to meet its targets and police are dropping entry standards
in a bid to make up the numbers. - NZPA, NZHERALD STAFF |