Concord on random checks by police

Press, 2 July 1979, Page 13

Concord on random checks by police

The Commissioner of Police (Mr R. J. Walton) says that he and the Minister of Police (Mr Gill) “see eye to eye” on the issue of policemen’s stopping motorists at random. Mr Walton referred to a “New Zealand Herald” report that his previous statement about the usefulness of such action had been condemned by Mr Gill. “Such is not the case,” he said. “I said that police policy is to stop motorists and make checks on reasonable grounds only. , “No-one got in touch with me about the incident at. Auckland where a person was allegedly stopped at random. I do not know the circumstances. but if that person was stopped for no reason whatsoever police policy was violated. “This incident has been distorted and blowm out of proportion by the news media.” Mr Walton said. “Mr Gill and I definitely see eye-to-eye on this matter. Random checks for no reason whatsoever are simply not police policy.” The matter arose when an Auckland motorist was allegedly stopped by a

plainclothes constable in the early hours of the morning and asked his name, his address, and destination. A subsequent complaint about such action has been made by the Auckland Council for Civil Liberties, but the chairman of the Canterbury Council for Civil Liberties (Mr W. Rosenberg) said that such action was legal, “but if abused on a big scale it does represent interference with civil liberties.” The Auckland Council fbr Civil Liberties has gone as far as to advise motorists not to stop if thqv are waved down by a policeman in plain clothes. “Under no circumstances should a woman or an eld- I erly person stop.” said the I council’s chairman (Mrs C. Fowler). Opinion seems to be divided as to whether the Transport Act allows such action: some persons have asserted that officers who stop cars should be uniformed; others believe that this is not required. Opinion also seems to differ whether a person commits an offence by not stopping or not giving the information asked for. The head of the Auck-

land police district (Assistant Commissioner F.. J. Trappill) has said that it would not be an offence for a motorist to refuse to stop for a plainclothes detective. However, Deputy Assistant Commissioner G. E. Twentyman, of the Christchurch police, told “The Press” that most vehicle checks at night w’ere made by. members of the uniformed branch, but occasionally, when warranted, such action by members not in uniform was permissible. Mr Gill was unavailable for comment.