CLAIM AFTER POLICE VISIT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31291, 10 February 1967, Page 3

CLAIM AFTER POLICE VISIT

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, February 9.

A Maori welfare officer, the widow of a former Auckland detective-sergeant, began a claim for damages against the AttorneyGeneral in the Supreme Court at Auckland today.

Mrs Barbara Hera Devonshire is claiming £6OOO from the Attorney-General, who is being sued in respect of the Police Department, over the alleged conduct and behaviour of two police officers who visited her home in Waterview on November 18, 1965. In her statement of claim she alleged that they trespassed and their conduct was malicious, insulting and oppressive. As a direct result of their actions, the claim says, she suffered humiliation and embarrassment and was subjected to mental strain. The right of the privacy of her own home had been invaded.

Through her counsel, Mr P. A. Williams and Mr D. W. Conway, Mrs Devonshire is claiming £3OOO for trespass and £3OOO for trespass to her chattels.

The Attorney-General Is represented by Mr C. M. Nicholson. The allegations are denied.

Mrs Devonshire said that at the time she was looking after a young girl who had come from a broken home. On November 18 she telephoned her home about 4 p.m. There was no reply so she telephoned again a few

minutes later. The girl answered, crying bitterly. A policeman came to the telephone and, when asked why he was there, said he and another officer had come to check on the girl. The police were not there when she got home, but on looking through her drawers and wardrobes, she noticed they had been tampered with. She rang the police about it and when the officers returned they said they did hot have a search warrant and that they had got the wrong information.

Mrs Devonshire added that she worked in the juvenile crime prevention section of Child Welfare. “I am helping the community and my husband spent all his life helping the community and I get a smack in the face for trying to help a lost soul." One of the officers had written her a letter of apology but she had torn it

up. Cross-examined by Mr Nicholson, Mrs Devonshire said she had worked with one of the officers and that he was “quite a nice chap.” The case, before Mr Justice Perry and a jury of nine men and three women, will continue tomorrow.