Police Denial Of Violence

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32199, 19 January 1970, Page 1

Police Denial Of Violence

(New Zealand Press Association? AUCKLAND, January 18. The head of the Auckland police (Assistant Commissioner F. O. Scott) has defended police action in removing demonstrators from outside the Hotel Intercontinental late on Friday night.

He said on Saturday that the police had acted with considerable restraint in the face of abuse hurled at them by some unruly demonstrators during the visit of the VicePresident of the United States (Mr Spiro Agnew). After Mr Agnew had left Auckland to return to the United States on Saturday morning, Mr Scott discussed in an interview the methods of the police in dealing with demonstrators who gathered outside the hotel during Mr Agnew’s stay. “Before Mr Agnew arrived in Auckland a warning was publicised that orderly behaviour. would be maintained by the police (during planned demonstrations),” Mr Scott said.

“About 11.45 p.m. on Friday demonstrators outside the hotel were asked to leave by the police, and some of the group complied with the request. “Others, sitting on the footpath, chanting and disturbing the peace, declined to leave,” he said. “AMPLE TIME” GIVEN “They were warned to desist and again asked to leave the area, but they defied the instruction. They were further warned that refusal would result in the police moving them,” said Mr Scott. “When they did not move, this was done. They had ample time to leave the area.” Mr Scott was questioned

about an incident in which a young woman was said to have been hurled along the footpath by the police, who pulled her mini-skirt up past her waist.

He said: “Any incident in relation to a female wearing a mini-skirt being manhandled by the police is refuted. “The main incident noticed was where a male, who was embracing a female, actually pulled her skirt high when the police moved into move them on.” NOT CONFIRMED

Mr Scott said that an episode in which a constable, cursing, was said to have dragged a demonstrator by the hair along the footpath, was contrary to police activity and had not been confirmed. He said he wanted to draw to the attention of the public that the police on duties connected with the visit of Mr Agnew, and with associated demonstrations, had worked 12-hour shifts since Thursday morning. Furthermore, the police controlling the crowds of demonstrators bad had streams of abuse, some of it couched in vile language, directed at them. “The police showed considerable restraint in the face of abuse hurled at them by so many for so long,” Mr Scott said. (Report ordered by Minister, back page.)