‘Intimidation widespread’

Press, 3 February 1987, Page 3

‘Intimidation widespread’

A Christchurch group employment liaison officer, Mr Peter Vink, alleges that police intimidation during the contract works scheme investigation was widespread, and not confined to the two G.E.L.S. officers in Christchurch.

Mr Vink said yesterday that a number of people were preparing affidavits on alleged police intimidation and stand-over tactics during the investigation.

“The impression gained by the public so far is probably that one or two people were treated this way by the police. In fact, there are a number of people in Christchurch, Timaru, and Dunedin who

are preparing details of how they were treated.” The allegations were made in an open letter sent by Christchurch’s two G.E.L.S. officers, Messrs Vink and Tahana Waretini, to the Minister of Employment, Mr Burke, who has asked for specific details of the alleged intimidation. Mr Vink said he had had no official communication from Mr Burke’s office but was expecting to be contacted this week. “All I know about the Minister’s reaction is what I read in the newspapers,” he said.

The Christchurch police have rejected the allegations as “absurd and without foundation.”