Police apology accepted

Press, 24 May 1977, Page 5

Police apology accepted

FA Hamilton The director of the Ruakura Research Station (Dr L. R. Wallace) has accepted an apology by the police for supplying incorrect information to the Magistrate’s Court at Hamilton. The police apologised for giving incorrect information to the Court during the hearing of a case of theft as a servant which was held five months after the offence was committed. The police prosecutor (Sergeant W. Goodisson) told Mr T. B. Mooney, S.M., that Dr Wallace had delayed the prosecution proceedings. The Magistrate then criticised Dr Wallace. After the remarks were made. Dr Wallace complained to the police and the information was found to be incorrect. The police said that the mistake was regretted, and they apologised to Dr Wallace and the Ministry of Agriculture for any embarrassment caused. The acting head of the Hamilton Police, Superintendent B. D. Thompson, said it was Dr Wallace who had brought the matter to the notice of the police and he had given every assistance during the inquiry.

Doctor Wallace said he was not responsible for the delay in the prosecuting proceedings as he had reported the crime to the police in December last year. “I haven’t a clue why it took so long,” he said. “The first I knew of it, the person had come up in court and my attention had been drawn to Mr Mooney’s remarks. “There was absolutely no substance of fact at all in the remarks and I have found the incident very damaging. “I have had totally unwarranted feedback but the police have taken the appropriate steps in investigating the matter and I accept the apology." The Magistrate’s remarks were understandable considering the information he had been given, said Dr Wallace. Sergeant Goodisson, who supplied the wrong information, is believed to have been transferred to another department. He has declined to comment further about the incident. The Police Association at Hamilton also declined to comment, saying it was not involved in the matter as no complaint had been made to it. But a spokesman did say, “We do not consider the matter closed.”