Indpendent probe sought

Press, 4 March 1982, Page 18

Indpendent probe sought

PA Wellington The joint Methodist - Presbyterian public questions committee has called on the Commissioner of Police (Mr R. J. Walton) to appoint an independent tribunal, or at least independent assessors, on any police tribunal dealing with actions resulting in personal injury or death. “The batoning of the clowns highlighted the need for this,” said the Rev. John Murray, co-convenor of the committee. “It is in the interests of the police themselves and of public confidence in them that they are not judge and jury of any serious complaints brought against them. Not only must justice be

done but it must be seen to be done. “Mr Walton has accepted police responsibility for the so-called clown incident, has narrowed the field down to 10 possible assailants, • but there are questions to be answered, such as how the police could not find who among them caused the injuries and why the police do not want even independent assessors on their tribunal. It suggests a ‘closed shop’ attitude,” Mr Murray said. The police in New Zealand had a proud record and the public wanted to see that upheld, “so we would ask Mr Walton why will the police not accept independent assessment of serious complaints, as is done by other people every day in the courts.”