Police apology for inaccuracy

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 5

Police apology for inaccuracy

"A Hamilton Inaccurate information "as given to the Magistrate’s ■, Court at Hamilton by the police during a theft trial this month. A police apology stemmed, from remarks made by Mr T. | B Mooney, S.M., in which he criticised the director of the Ruakura Animal Research! •Station (Dr L R. Wallace); for delaying the prosecution of an abattoir manager for theft as a servant until five! months after the offence. j The Magistrate said at the hearing on May 4: “Enforcement of the law is in the hands of the police and not; in the hands of some other Government department.! Who makes the decision to prosecute, the police or thei director of the research sta-| tion?” The Magistrate added: “Itj is not for Dr Wallace or any; other person to decide 1 whether law enforcement! officers should take any further steps.” The acting head of the! Hamilton police. Superin-, tcndent B. D. Thompson, said; the police information on which the Magistrate based • his remarks was incorrect. . The Magistrate had asked the police prosecutor (Sergeant W. Goodison) during

the trial the reason for the delay. Superintendent Thompson said the sergeant had made a quick assessment of the file but had wrongly summed up the situation. Sergeant Goodison had , told the Court that the prosecution had been delayed because Dr Wallace had not given permission to proceed 'against the accused. I However, the police on Thursday said that Dr Wai-! lace who had brought the' matter to the attention of the 1 police and had offered every! assistance throughout the inquiry. “Sections of the file were; .open to misinterpretation if it was not studied,” Mr : Thompson said. “Sergeant Goodison is a good prosecu- ' tor and there is no dubt he I was genuine in his actions — • but he was wrong.” The reflection on Dr Wallace and the Ministry of 1 Agriculture and Fisheries ! was regretted, and the police apologised to them and to ; the Court for any embarrass- ! ment caused, Mr Thompson said. He would not confirm reports that the prosecuting sergeant had been taken out i of court. “Suitable departmental action will be taken on the matter,” he said.