Inquiry urged

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33739, 11 January 1975, Page 1

Inquiry urged

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January’ 10.

The legal adviser to the Auckland Medical Aid Centre, Mr R. C. Clough, today called for a public inquiry into police conduct towards the centre, its medical staff, and patients.

Mr Clough, who is also a member of the centre’s trust board, said he was deligted with the Court of Appeal decision quashing a police warrant to seize medical files at the centre, but the matter should be taken further.

"Frankly, I consider a public inquiry into police conduct is necessary, not only in relation to the seizing of files, but also into the conduct of the investigation,” said Mr Clough. He alleged that patients from the centre and doctors were intimidated by the police during their inquiries.

The medical director of the centre’s abortion clinic (Dr R. B. Hunton) said today that he would feel happier if the Court’s decision showed the warrant had been quashed because it was too wide in scope, and that the police

overstepped the mark in| breaching medical confidence, I rather than on the technicality! that it was defective. The evidence placed before the Magistrate concerned one case which the police wished to investigate. Yet the police had embarrassed the centre ; and its patients by taking 5001 records. "They made us look like: an illegal organisation, and made a large number of patients think that they might. have done something illegal.; “We believe we have kept! within the frame-work of the law throughout our operations. We co-operated with, the police at all times, and I do not believe there was any need for such drastic police action,” said Dr Hunton.

(Court’s decision, Page 2)