Reply to criticism

Press, 10 April 1981, Page 23

Reply to criticism

PA Wellington Law courts should face up to their responsibilities t 0 impose penalties to deal with violence, said the Minister of Police (Mr Couch) last evening. If they did so there would be a “lot less violence on the streets,” he said. Earlier this week a Wellington District Court judge, Judge BeatoOr., criticised thei Minister’s warning that the police would meet violence with violence. It was not. Judge Bearson said, the; function of the police to i take the law into their own: hands. Their role was toi bring offenders to court so; they could be dealt with by, New Zealand law. Judge Beatson advised a( youth who said he had been ; beaten up by the police toi lay a complaint. That, Mr: Couch told Porirua Rota-' rians last evening, was “fair■ enough." * .‘But when Judge Beatson; says the courts are the place : to” deal with violence, he is

i on less stable ground,” Mr • Couch said. "A large propori tion of the letters 1 get from 1 long-suffering members of the public complain bitterly ' about the courts’ apparent reluctance to do anything I more about violence than to i give offenders what I once described as a slap, on the wrist with a wet bus ticket.” “The courts should be the H place to deal with violence. 'As soon as they start to J face up to their responsi.'bilities, as a few are begin:(ning to do now, we can (hope to see a lot less violence on the streets,” Mr (Couch said. i “The penalties are there, (in law. But only the courts ;can use them. If they will mot do this, there are only ; twa choices left. Either we (let criminals beat up citizens ;and the police with impun-( ;ity, or we stand up to them (ourselves,” he said. I “While I am Minister of (Police, I .will not ask any : policeman or policewoman; to take punishment without I

• the right to retaliate. So ■ long as they do not start the i violence, I am on their side r 100 per cent.” Judge Beatson said it was ; not the function of the ; police to take the law into > their own hands. The police ; were well paid and trained ; and their role was to bring onenders to court so that > they could be dealt with by . New Zealand law. > He said he had read a ■ newspaper report last Friday ■ 'that quoted Mr Couch as i: saying: “The police are there ■(to uphold law and order. If ■; circumstances arise we will • meet violence with vio- , lence.” J Judge Beatson said Mr (Couch might have been re- -• ported out of context, but he ; could assure the public and jthe police that as far as the (courts were concerned the ' police were not to take the j matter of dealing with violent offenders into their own hands. The offenders 'would be dealt with in I court.