Complaints authority bill hit by police

Press, 21 November 1986, Page 9

Complaints authority bill hit by police

The Christchurch police have condemned a planned bill to set up a police complaints authority with wide-ranging powers. A meeting of the Christchurch branch of the Police Association earlier this week supported moves by the national association to have the bill dropped. “It was seen as totally unwarranted, unnecessary, and a vicious mark on the integrity of every serving police officer,” said the president of the Christchurch branch, Senior Constable Graeme Pierson. The original draft of the bill aims to set up a police complaints authority to investigate any matters which it feels necessary or complaints re-

ferred to it. Persons called before the authority would have to answer questions and would have no right to legal representation, according to the association. The original draft has been amended, but the association says it does not know what the amendments are. A spokesman for the Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus, confirmed there were amendments, but could not say what these were. The Minister hoped to introduce the bill in Parliament before the end of the year, the spokesman said. The Christchurch branch of the association believed that an independent examiner was needed, said Senior Con-

stable Pierson. The association believed that the police should have the same rights as others in the community, especially those who also came under public scrutiny. Mr Keith Morrow, president of the association, said that the association was upset that the Government saw such a tribunal as being necessary. He said that the original idea for an independent examiner came from the association. Such an examiner would look at police practices and procedures. The Southland branch of the Police Association voted earlier this week to support moves to have the bill dropped. V