Trade unionists’ calls not ignored — police

Press, 13 April 1984, Page 6

Trade unionists’ calls not ignored — police

PA Wellington The police denied yesterday ignoring calls from trade unionists and hotel staff about a man who seemed similar to an identikit of a man sought over the Wellington Trades Hall bombing. But the Federation of Labour’s vice-president, Miss Sonja Davies, who was one of the group which sought police help after the sighting, said last evening that she took strong exception to the police explanation of events. Wellington’s District Commander, Deputy Assistant Commissioner. W. R. Fleming, said that although there was delay in responding to an initial call at 1.32 p.m. on Wednesday, a further call at 1.40 p.m. was actioned and a women who followed the man from a hotel was found three minutes later.

“I am disappointed our initial response was not our

best effort and I have taken action to ensure this type of delay does not happen again,” said Mr Fleming. “I emphasise that whenever people require an urgent police response, they should phone 111.” He said that because the man had left the Brunswick Arms tavern when the police received the first call, priority was given to finding the woman following him. This woman was found 11 minutes after the first call but unfortunately she had lost the man in Dixon Street.

“Our inquiries show that we recorded five phone calls from three persons and only one of these was on 111. Three of these calls, including the 111 call, were received after the woman witness was located in Sturdee Street,” Mr Fleming said.

Miss Davies said she was not prepared to get into a public dispute with the police over what had oc-

curred. The police had sought, and had been given, assurances that union officials would make no more public comments on the incident. “In the interests of the case ... we all want the bomber caught,” she said. “But I don’t agree with the police statement today (Thursday). I am concerned that my integrity, and that of my colleagues, has been questioned. “I am taking the matter up in writing with the police,” she said. The man heading the inquiry, Detective Inspector E. A. Linnes, emphasised yesterday that the direct line was for information and anyone seeing someone who fitted the photofits should telephone police control or 111. The “hotline” was receiving so much information that it could not always be processed immediately, he said.