Invitation to police

Press, 16 November 1981, Page 20

Invitation to police

Sir,—lt now . transpires (“The Press,” November 7) that Dr Craven’s recent “private” visit formed part of a world tour designed to promote South Africa’s international sporting connections. His efforts in New Zealand included offers of free holidays to policemen —

clearly either a bribe or a payment for services rendered. In fairness to the police one must assume the former. While there may be no laws per se against being an agent of a foreign power, there are strict prohibitions against offering bribes to policemen, and against accepting them. Would the police and/or the legal authorities clarify their response to this apparent attempt to subvert the course of justice?—Yours, etc., . . . • S. O. MAHONEY. November 7, 1981.

[Mr B. W. Gibson, Assistant Commissioner, Public Affairs, New Zealand Police, replies: “Your correspondent’s letter seems to be motivated more by malice than common sense. No offer of free travel to South Africa has been made to the New Zealand Police administration. As far as I am aware, the suggestion has only been raised through media channels. Nor has anyone attempted to bribe the police over the tour issue. To have done so would have brought a very prompt response and would undoubtedly have resulted in court appearances. A bribe is an offer designed to cause someone to forgo a duty. To suggest that the police would be privy to bribery or attempts to bribe is insulting in the extreme. The tour, fortunately, is long over. I am sure the vast majority of New Zealanders were satisfied with the police response to the. maintenance of lav; and order and saw no outside influences on their actions."]