‘No need’ to trial video interviews

Press, 30 December 1988, Page 6

‘No need’ to trial video interviews

PA Wellington The Police Association has called for the immediate national introduction of electronic recording of police interviews, instead of putting the scheme on trial first. Its call follows the release by the Minister of Justice, Mr Palmer, of a report by the former Gov-ernor-General and High Court judge, Sir David Beattie, recommending the introduction of video I WW w v v w w •»

n recording of police inter- ■ views for use in court. n The report suggested a i- trial of the system in :- three areas over the next - year in the Kapiti-Mana ;, police district, Otahuhu s and Christchurch. But the president of the - Police Association, Mr f Keith Morrow, said the i association did not see the need for any field testing i in New Zealand. 1 Although he had not yet ? seen a copy of the report, ) he said the association’s

position was to embrace the concept of recording interviews. Enough work had been done on the concept overseas to allow New Zealand the luxury of selecting a date and introducing it nationally on that day, he said. The association was also keen to . know whether all police stations would be provided with the necessary equipment.