Legal observers’ report on police

Press, 2 September 1981, Page 3

Legal observers’ report on police

PA Wellington Legal observers say the police used excessive and unreasonable force in several incidents during the anti-tour demonstrations in Wellington last Saturday. However, the 20 observers, including 15 lawyers, said yesterday that the police had, in general, acted with restraint in what was clearly a difficult task.

They were at times provoked by a very small minority ’of demonstrators who appeared to be “antipolice." said a Wellington lawyer and group spokesman. Mr John Marshall jun.

The observers listed six incidents of police behaviour they were unhappy about, including an absence of police identification numbers which they said probably were concealed under heavy coats. They also noted that warnings were not issued on most occasions, and said that at least one violent incident might have been avoided had a warning been given. They said that just before 1 p.m. at the Rintoul StreetRiddiford Street intersection about 12 policemen charged into the demonstrators —

completely without warning — with the apparent object of clearing the footpath.

"Considerable, and in our view unnecessary, force was used to pull protesters from the footpath and drag them or throw them across the road," Mr Marshall said.

Some demonstrators were forced by the- police against a big .plate-glass shop window, which shattered. . "This was a seeable consequence of the police action and it was fortuitous that no-one was seriously injured by the falling glass. At least four observers saw this incident, and their reaction was one of shock and disbelief. "About 40 minutes later at the same intersection the police began forcibly removing crash helmets from protesters — for no apparent reason and without justification.

“By way of example, one person was pulled down on to the road and sat upon by a policeman while others tried to pull off his helmet which was still attached round his jaw.

"To the best of our knowledge the persons whose helmets were removed had done nothing wrong and were arrested." Mr Marshall said. A Red Cross worker attending an unconscious person at the intersection was

told by the police to move him out of the way, although the worker wanted to treat and examine the person on the spot. It was not necessary for the maintenance of law and order, but the police insisted the person be removed, Mr Marshall said. A police group charged into demonstrators ‘Sitting and blocking Riddiford Street at 1.42 p.m. They did not succeed in clearing a path and did not make a second attempt. As two groups of demonstrators met at the Riddiford Street-Luxford Street intersection — one group being pushed by police — members of the police Red Squad moved in and attacked them. Several persons were knocked to the ground by batons. A Red Cross worker was struck by a baton as he knelt down to lend an injured protester. Mr Marshall said the Red Squad was not under any personal threat from the demonstrators who were being controlled by their leaders. “Some bystanders were throwing bottles and cans and other missiles at both police and demonstrators. The police may have thought these objects were thrown by demonstrators." he said.