No action on complaint

Press, 10 May 1982, Page 4

No action on complaint

PA Auckland A Bastion Point protester whose wrist was broken when he was arrested has been told by Auckland’s police chief that he was “the author of his own misfortune." Assistant Commissioner Bryan Gibson told Mr John Packenham that the police would take no further action on his complaint of unnecessary force used during his arrest on a trespassing charge. “I have advised Mr Pakenham that he was the author of his own misfortune be-

cause of the tactics he adopted after his arrest. “I am convinced the force used was reasonable and I reject mr Pakenham’s assertions,” he said yesterday. The arresting constable had applied a standard wristhold to people who violently resisted when taken into custody. More than 100 such arrests were made without injury, Mr Gibson said. "A small number of protesters walked from the scene quietly, but most re- • isted, some violently. “It is clear from the investigation I have had carried

out that Mr Pakenham elected to slump to the ground while being removed from the Housing Corporation land. “His action applied a sudden excessive force to his own wrist joints before the constable could adjust to his behaviour. As a result he suffered a minor fracture to a wrist bone.’’. Mr Gibson said inquiries into Mr Pakenham’s com-, plaint had been thoroughly carried out and a number of witness questioned, including his own deputy, Mr Ken Sykes who saw the arrest.