Allegations of Abuse by NZ Police
	peterellis Home / police allegations / Rickards, Shipton, Schollum vs Jane Doe Page 7 - Further Reaction to Not Guilty Verdict
	One News March 8 2007; 18:00 Bradford wants police apology Sue Bradford The Greens want police to publicly apologise for an alleged historic culture of abuse and violence. MP Sue Bradford said her party backed the marches being held around the country in solidarity with rape survivors in the wake of the acquittal decision in the recent police indecent assault trial. Bradford said it was clear there was a culture of violence and abuse of very young women that ran almost unchecked in some provincial towns in the 1980s, and that an apology from police was necessary as well as a reassurance that women coming forward now will be treated with sensitivity and compassion. She said sex between a young woman and a group of older men in positions of authority would almost always be about violence and power, even when it was deemed consensual by some. Meanwhile, police have confirmed that front-line officers are being goaded over the outcome of the sex trials. Acting Bay of Plenty District Commander John Canning says that, particularly in conflict situations, some people have tried to push officers' buttons. He conceded that the controversy had put a cloud over the force, but believed they would shrug it off in time. Canning added that it was not the first time that incidents have led police to look long and hard at themselves, and unfortunately it would not be the last.