Police activities

Press, 21 November 1986, Page 16

Police activities

Sir,—Yet again, the police are demanding more staff (October 30). Close scrutiny of police activities leads me to reject this demand. For instance, on October 23. there were enough police with enough spare time to go through the city centre provoking, then arresting people whose only “crime” seemed to be spiky hair and unconventional clothing. Other police have plenty of time to “investigate” the entirely legal disbursement of Government funds to (rival?) gangs.’ Space restricts mention of further examples, but it seems clear to me that, with the staff and resources they already have, the police are abusing their power and stepping into areas in which they can have no legitimate interest in a democracy. In these circumstances, one may reasonably conclude that calls for more police mean further steps toward a police State. — Yours, etc.,

J. R. DAVIES. November 1, 1986,

[Superintendent M. K. J. Tarling replies: “The writer obviously has not comprehended the complexities of policing a city the size of Christchurch. The matter raised required strong police attention to ensure that the law, which is a police responsibility, is upheld. No further comment.”]