Ombudsman wants more powers of inquiry

Press, 17 July 1982, Page 11

Ombudsman wants more powers of inquiry

PA -Wellington The Chief Ombudsman. Mr G. R. Laking. has suggested his powers be broadened to permit the investigation of a police matter on his own initiative without waiting for a complaint. Following up the report of the Commissioner of Police on Tuesday on the handling of complaints against police conduct during the Springbok tour, the Ombudsman indicated the so-called “clowns" case was one in which he could have acted without waiting for a complaint.

He noted he was only peripherally involved.

“I feel sure that my more direct involvement could have been helpful to both the police and to the complainants." he said. The incident related to a small group of anti-tour protesters dressed as clowns

who were batoned by policemen in Auckland.

The police admitted the batoning but could not identifv the culprits. Mr taking said modifications of his powers to deal with complaints against the police seemed "desirable" and would appear to create little, if any. problem for the police. In addition to making investigations on his own initiative, doubts about the extent of his jurisdiction to check complaints against the police "could well be removed."

The Ombudsman said he accepted that the primary responsibility for police discipline and morale must remain with the Commissioner of Police. However, his seven years experience in the job had convinced.him the law could be modified “to make the

Ombudsman's review more speedy and effective."

The Ombudsman said he had hoped to have his report on Springbok tour complaints against the police ready about the same time as that of the Commissioner of Police.

“This would have been helpful to the public in forming a balanced judgment on an issue of considerable public interest."

He had had 32 complaints and' his investigations of them would take another two or three months. The Ombudsman said his suggestions were not based on any belief that police investigative procedures were inadequate. In his ex; perience they were in general thorough and conscientious.

Nor did they imply any dissatisfaction with the degree of co-operation given by

the Commissioner of Police. But the Ombudsman's function was to satisfy the Legislature and public about the way in which particular cases had been handled and. if there had been some lapse, to be able to recommend an effective remedv.

“One of the main problems is the time which normally elapses before a complaint reaches my hands, which seriously inhibits the effectiveness of my investigations and more often than not makes impracticable the implementation of any proposal for remedying an injustice. “My experience in dealing with 'complaints arising out of the rugby tour provides a telling example of this very problem," the Ombudsman said.

By the time he could issue a report, it would be more than a year since the events took place.