Incident ‘misinterpreted’

Press, 8 April 1987, Page 8

Incident ‘misinterpreted’

PA Wellington A late-night incident involving Cabinet Ministers at the Chatham Islands airport is believed to have led the police to raise the matter with the Commissioner of Police. It is likely that the Opposition will ask questions in Parliament today. The Minister of Police, Mrs Hercus, last evening released a statement saying a “small and goodhumoured check on police alertness” at the airport had been “misinterpreted.”

Mrs Hercus, who is member of Parliament

for the Chatham Islands, and two other Cabinet Ministers visited the Chathams last Friday and stayed overnight. In her statement, Mrs Hercus said that because of recent damage to police vehicles on the island, the Commissioner of Police had advised her that police protection was necessary for the R.N.Z.A.F. aircraft which carried the Ministers and officials to the Chathams.

Two diplomatic protection squad officers had accompanied the party to provide security for the plane from dusk to dawn.

Mrs Hercus said she had indicated to the

officers that she, would visit them informally about midnight.

“I did so out of concern and interest for the duties they were carrying out.” About midnight she and the Minister of Transport, Mr Prebble, plus officials had paid such a visit. “In good humour, some officials decided to check police alertness by crossing the tarmac to the plane.

. “At this time I was talking to the Minister of

Transport and an official off the tarmac some distance away, but I was aware of what was happening,” Mrs Hercus said. However, it appears that the police officers concerned did not view the incident in the same way as Mrs Hercus. “Unfortunately I am now aware from the Commissioner that the motives for this good-humoured check on police alertness have been misinterpreted.”