Tuesday 29 May 2007

Heavy Handed Police Again

This month police were criticised for not breaking up the party that led to the deaths of 16-year-olds Hannah Rossiter and Jane Young in Edgeware Road, Christchurch.

Now parents of teenagers at a party in Ladbrooks on Saturday night say police destroyed a "trouble-free" teenage party.

It was supervised by 23 adults – one of whom was arrested for assault – because parents wanted to avoid an Edgeware-style situation.

Parent Lisa Walker said the party for her son's and daughter's 18th and 16th birthdays respectively at Ladbrooks Hall, near Lincoln, was broken up by police in "flak jackets" who "marched in without speaking to anyone, formed a human chain at the back of the hall and herded everyone onto the street".
Walker said the police swore at children and adult supervisors, threatened them with pepper spray, and arrested one of the adults when he touched an officer's hat to get his attention.
The man spent a night in jail and was charged with assault.
Eight parents laid official complaints with police on Sunday.
Walker said in the wake of the Edgeware Road tragedy they decided the party would be strictly supervised.
Police seemed intent on relying on "heavy-handed" tactics, she said.
Five adults patrolled the only gate, children were stamped on entry and not let back out. Parents knew where their children were by invitations and phone calls through the week.
The party, which Walker had agreed with police would end at 1am, was shutting down when 14 police with two paddy wagons arrived at 12.40am.
"I said to them, 'Please don't cause trouble'. The kids were absolutely terrified."
Parent Jacqui Hudson said police behaviour inflamed the situation and endangered kids. "They were putting lives at risk."

Policewatch says: 1939 Brownshirts - 2007 Blueshirts

The Appeal Against Insanity or Heavy Handed Police

From the internet.

In October last year there was a protest against a Weapons Conference being held at Te Papa, our national museum, and referred to colloquially as “Our Place”. Only it is not the place of the New Zealand people for a few days a year, when Arms Dealers from all over the world congregate on this small area to work on sales of weapons.

On the first day of the protest I witnessed numerous assaults by members of New Zealand’s police force against peaceful protestors, all of which would have been recorded on CCTV, yet none of those assaults were investigated. I witnessed Andrzej Kowalczyk (head of the NZPD Strategic Response Group) pull a male by his dreads, I was hit in the face by another Police Officer, I was shoved around alot, I witnessed someone else’s glasses get broken, and a general breakdown of the New Zealand Police Force’s ordinarily strong ethics

On the next day, I was with a good friend of mine, manning a banner. We were standing within half a metre of the police lines, and had they wished to do so they would have had ample ability to engage with us in friendly conversation. They did not do this, and we continued to protest, occasionally chanting “Arms Trade, Death Trade,” amongst other slogans.
We were then told the protest was over and were moving to depart when my friend was grabbed by a Three Man Extraction Squad with no prior warning of what was occuring.
Based on the assaults and affray I had experienced and seen the Police engage in on the previous day I believed that my friend was being assaulted unlawfully by members of the police force, as neither I nor my friend had been given any prior warning or indication as to what was happening.
I then reacted instinctively to protect my friend against what I percieved to be unlawful excessive and violent action on the behalf of the NZPD Strategic Response Group, linked arms with him, and was dragged away and charged with one count of Obstructing Justice.

The following footage has captured Police in the act.

Watch the video for yourself, you be the judge:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P2QAaClsMZg

Comment on the above also from the Internet
Ra Says: May 23rd, 2007 at 4:04 pm
I wonder if we as New Zealanders are willing to stand aside and allow this gang in blue to continue this sort of treatment.
I myself fell victim to rogue cop treatment when I saw a teenager in the middle of town getting mistreated.
I didnt know the kid but I did see how the ruckus had started and basically he was getting arrested for not moving on when being asked, sorry, when being told. The kid just chose the wrong time and the wrong cop to show defiance.Now the cops probably have the right to enforce this, (I’m no expert in the law but I imagine they’d label it loitering in a public space or unlawful congregation yadda yadda) but the level of force they used was excessive to say the least.
Being the only adult in the vacinity I walked over to a female cop standing aside. I asked her if she thought that the police officer with his full weight on one knee in the back of the teenager on the ground was a bit rough and she told me to mind my own business and move on.I took exception and pushed the issue then ended up asking for her badge number. Now I’m no expert in dealing with police but as far as I knew they have a serial type badge number on their shoulders. When I was trying to look for it she called another collegue over and told him they were gonna have trouble with me now. At the same time she squared up making it harder for me to see her serial number.I was under the impression they had to give it out when asked.
Cop number two then takes over and tells me if I dont move on I’ll get arrested, when I question what for he replies obstruction of justice and disturbing the peace. I’m 5 meters away from the guy being assaulted on the ground and I’m not interferring with the arresting officers in any way but I am presenting myself as a possible threat and hinderence so the two of them turn on me.
Now I’m no chicken but I’m not an idiot either, I didnt know the guy being arrested but I feel for the poor fucker but I back down anyway.There was no way I was getting arrested for this kid mistreatment of not.
I know now that I if the same situation came around I’d stand tall and back that kid up because that shit stuck with me for the past 2 years. I feel guilty even today for backing away from that female cop.
I know that when recruits go to join the police force the vast majority if them have good intentions and think they can make a difference. But I also know that after hearing stories from (someone that use to be) a very close friend of mine about some of the goings on at Porirua (the police training school) that it changes them to having a gang mentality.So there’s not much hope for changing the way police act unless you could change the way they are trained me thinks.
sux
- Ra

Sex And Drugs Claims, Yet No Investigation

Allegations that serving and former police officers were involved in crimes including rape and drug-taking will not be investigated by the Police Complaints Authority.

Investigate editor Ian Wishart, who wrote an article exposing an alleged seedy side of the Dunedin Police, renewed his call for a commission of inquiry into the claims, saying police investigating themselves was a "Mickey Mouse situation".
No one would make a formal complaint in a system that could not be trusted, he said. "There is a huge conflict of interest ... which was exactly the point of my article."

The Investigate magazine claimed that Dunedin police officers were involved in corruption, drug-taking, rape and child-sex rings, it also revealed that a pornographic film involving bestiality with a chicken was screened in 1981 in the Dunedin home of Howard Broad, now the Commissioner of Police.
Mr Broad has admitted the film was screened but said he was unaware it had happened until later.
Police Complaints Authority head Justice Lowell Goddard, QC, said yesterday that no claims from the magazine required investigation or action by the authority without specific complaints.

Policewatch says it past the time that a truly independant Authority be established rather than stakeholders under appointment.

Another Police Chase Gone Wrong?

A youth is fighting for his life after a police chase and serious car crash in west Auckland last night.
Police chased two cars for between 10 and 20 seconds, before one of the vehicles, a Honda Prelude, veered across the centreline and smashed into a footpath, flipping twice.
The young driver - the father of a three-month-old baby - is believed to be in a serious condition in hospital with head and lung injuries.

The other car stopped at the scene and police said its occupants were helping them with their inquiries. One of those occupants, Brendon King, 19, said the two cars were not racing and had been cruising together at 70km/h.
However, he said his friend, who was driving the other car, overtook the other car shortly before the crash.
"I got out and ran up to see if (the driver) was OK, and he was still in the car but blood was coming out of his face. Another passenger was lying on the ground, saying his heart hurt."
King said the crash wouldn't have happened if police had backed off.

Police would not confirm the vehicle speeds before or during the chase, except to say they were "well in excess of the speed limit". Several police vehicles were on the scene within seconds.
The Serious Crash Unit is investigating, but the Police Complaints Authority was not involved at this stage, said a spokesman.

A Herald on Sunday photographer was arrested at the scene as he attempted to take photographs.

Rickards continues on full pay

Assistant Police Commissioner Clint Rickards continues to around $150,000 a year as Police Management extend his suspension while they continue to work through "employment issues".
In March, Rickards was cleared of kidnapping and indecent assault charges involving a 16-year-old.
Rickards has been suspended on full pay since 2004.

Low Police Morale.

Also From the Republicans.

There are many factors influencing police morale, but one sure indicator and that is when the attrition rate affects the age balance, says Law and Order spokesman Bevan Berg.

With low moral we see young officers leaving after short periods of service rather than seeking promotion,
The flow on effect of bad management within the police administration affects, not only the functioning of the Police, but also Law and Order in the broader sense.

If we have too many frontline Policemen leaving they are often unavailable to give evidence in court cases. The Police offer no evidence and the Judge has no option but to dismiss the case.

After so much recent scrutiny, our frontline staff need to know they have an effective minister, who understands the realities of modern policing. They are not getting that from Annette King said Mr Berg, any more than they did from George Hawkins.

Without effective management what we will see is the Police adopting an increasingly defensive position and an increasingly aggressive approach to the public as they become more withdrawn from the community, says Mr Berg.

Political Parrot or Police Association.

From the Republicans.

Republicans Law and Order spokesman Bevan Berg has a strong message for the current President of the NZ Police Association Mr Greg O’Connor.

“If the Association continues its persistent meddling in politics it risks becoming another parrot organisation for Government, rather than an advocate for members of the New Zealand Police”, says Mr Berg

O’Connor is a Senior Sergeant of Police seconded full time to the Association National Office, and that function is to support serving officers and civilian staff.

Not says Mr Berg, “To play Government spokesman by Police Salary”.

I understand Mr O’Connor has held this position since 1995. If his interests in politics are so great I suggest he step into that arena and hand the reigns of the Association to someone with a greater interest in the welfare of our Police Staff.

One of the most important functions of the association is to provide an independent ear to officers who find themselves in uncertain circumstances, and it cannot properly do that while the Association is continually seen to have an overt political position.

Policing has never been more difficult, says Mr Berg, “Police Staff need to know that their Association is there for them, and that it has not become another political puppet.”

Too many organisations are being encouraged to say what Government wants to hear rather than provide quality advice, or perform their function, and the Police Association is not alone in indulging this political aberration, noted Mr Berg.

Thursday 24 May 2007

Feminised Police Policy in Action?

Found on the Internet

Just watched Police 10 - 7

The scene was of a male clearly the victim of assault accusing his (Female) partner of committing the assault. Police approached her. She admitted it.

Now here is the twist. The male was told that if they proceeded to arrest her CYFS would have to be informed and would remove the children forthwith.

The man replied that he was their father, why could he not look after the children? He was informed that that was policy.

Remember this was on national TV

The last shot was of the male despondently walking away".
(Also posted on various sites)

Policewatch has attempted to ascertain the truth of content in this matter but has been declined by the Producers of the Program.

Re: Obtaining Police Ten 7 footage.
Thank you for your email and phonecall regarding Police Ten 7.
While I appreciate your interest in the item I am not in a position to be able to release this footage to you.
Given the sensitive nature of the material featured in the programme Screentime Ltd does not release any footage, episode transcripts or otherwise to the public and so I am unable to help you any further with your request.
Kind Regards
Sarah-Luise Hornblow

Perhaps the Police themselves could explain as in an earlier episode a male assaulted a female who did not want to prosecute yet they invoked prosecution under their own powers.

And perhaps, the alleged blackmailing of the male victim and father with the threat of CYFS involvement also requires explanation.

Tuesday 22 May 2007

Were the Police in Pursuit?

Mark McElrea wants to know if a police car was pursuing the vehicle before an accident that killed his son after claims by two passengers and an independent witness.

"My understanding is that at the time of the crash there was no police pursuit in progress and in fact there had not been an actual pursuit taking place," said Police spokesman Kevin Loughlin.

Backseat passenger Kayla Hewison said "the cop pulled out of a street and started following us".
"Then the cops caught up to us, we had stopped at the intersection [of Pine Valley Rd and Kahikatea Flat Rd] then the cops were right up our butts. We went left, boosted it, cops were up our butts again. We felt a bang, we all went forward a bit then I remember sliding and then I remember starting to flip."

Ms Hewitson, who was thrown through the back window but escaped with rib injuries and scratches, said she had also given a statement to police in which she alleged the police car was following close to the Subaru "and gave us a bump".
She said the car had lights and sirens going at the time.
Ms Hewitson said police told her "that's your side of the story".

Mr McElrea said a Dairy Flat resident travelling on Kahikatea Flat Rd told him the Subaru overtook him and his partner on a dangerous corner. He was overtaken about 50m further along the road by a police car with lights flashing.

Mr McElrea said police started "closing shop" when asked about allegations of a pursuit.

Policewatch says is it then normal practice for police to be driving along with lights flashing if not in pursuit or en route to an emergency, suggest a look at the bumper of the Police car.

P is for Police

A Counties - Manukau police officer has been stood down from duty after being charged with dealing in the drug methamphetamine.
The 26-year-old made a brief appearance in court last Tuesday and will reappear next week.
Police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow says police will be making no further comment on the matter as it is before the court.

Wednesday 16 May 2007

Annette King under Parliamentary Privilege

Annette is now further attacking Mr Idour citing parliamentary privelege and quoting her source as a member of the Police.

You blew it Annette likewise Helen,

Annette give us the answer to the following three questions.

Why hasn't Chief Family Court Judge Peter Boshier been indicted for releasing details of the Skelton / Jones case?

Why hasn't Magaret Wilson been impeached by misleading Parliament with her introducing the COC A2004 illegally, for the benefit of a minority that usurps hetrosexual reproduction?

Pledge Card, the Labour Party and non - prosecution?

Maybe, the rumours about Labour, the Police and judiciary have basis.

Police face increasing violence from disrespectful teens

Police are facing increasing violence from teenagers who have no respect for officers and don't fear the consequences, says the Police Association.

Poilcewatch says And now we have legislation passed this evening that would endorse the furthering of this position by taking away an effective method of disciplining children.

Toddlers will also have no fear of consequence.

Bain, Broad, Helen & Annette.

Over the last couple of days these four people have been the focus of the National Media.

David Bain.

Released on bail (the criteria was more than met regarding the Bail Act) which the Crown had then the affront to oppose, perhaps, as a last minute attempt at saving face.
Is this the type of Crown Prosecution Service we expect from our Civil Servants?
Should David face a retrial?
Definitely, if the Crown is sure of the facts that support “beyond reasonable doubt” that he committed a mass murder and not rely upon a speculation of web weaving by members of the Police to get a conviction.
David, enjoy your compensation when it is awarded, rebuild your life but be remain vigilant and don’t allow this travesty to be swept under the carpet so that it may be replicated upon others.

Let us reflect on the words of Joe;

"Mainly because the police in particular were so obstructive in assisting with investigating things that didn't get investigated properly in the start."

Mr Karam has been vocal in his criticism of the police, alleging incompetence which resulted in the police suing him, unsuccessfully, for defamation.

Howard Broad.

Unconfirmed gossip is that Howard is to give a Public apology to the SPCA on behalf of the NZ Police.

Yes, ‘Bestiality at Broads’ was the ' menu and venue' according to Ian Wishart in his Investigate Magazine.

Seems, it was TRUE!

Danger, Danger, damage control says the Management and string pullers, espouse diatribe that alleges Howard wasn’t aware that filth flicks of the most indecent acts were screening in his space.
The whistleblower was not an unfamiliar name being Mr Wayne Idour.
Mr Idour states he recalls "attending a party at Howard Broad's house," where there were movies being shown on a movie projector, one of them depicting bestiality, and a significant amount of alcohol consumed.

Helen & Annette.

However, Police Minister Annette King said Idour was the man who showed the pornographic movie.
“He was a policeman at the time in Dunedin, He played the film.” said Ms. King
She further attacked him for his role as a private investigator contracted by individuals who coincidentally belong to a religious organization to scrutinize members of the Labour Party including Helen and family to ascertain if irregularities were being conducted and condoned.
In September last year Mr Idour admitted that he and a colleague had been hired by a member of the Exclusive Brethren religious sect to spy on Miss Clark and other Labour MPs.
He said his mission was to uncover "illegal activities" and he would soon reveal sensational information.
Is this the sensational information asks Policewatch? Or do we have more yet to come.
Helen also openly and without Parliamentary Privilege has accused Mr Idour as the supplier of filth to Howard’s soiree.
Crunch time, far more is implicated with these revelations than is generally perceived.
The Labour Party and its members who have been under scrutiny and have had direct accusations of inappropriateness leveled fully against them, apply an ostrich syndrome and ride the storm out, yet have never sought to have these accusations remedied permanently via defamation?
WHY?

Mr Idour and Wishart have you both now on public record making statements that defame their integrity, looking forward to further development!!!

It was further implied by Helen that Ian and his Investigate Magazine were funded by the Brethren or the National Party, Bollocks!!
The advice from Policewatch is if you are in a hole, stop digging!

Policewatch also does not have affiliation with any religion, race, sect or gender.

Friday 11 May 2007

Police spend $100,000 to keep case out of court

More than $100,000 has been paid out by the New Zealand Police to keep a defamation case out of court.
Gun City director David Tipple took a defamation action against the police for remarks made by a Christchurch officer in 1999.
Remarks made by Inspector Grant Buchanan sullied his reputationit was alleged.
Revelations in March had the case being settled, but police would not say how much they paid out.
A request under the Official Information Act, police revealed they paid $35,000 to the man who was originally seeking $800,000.
In addition, police spent more than $62,000 in legal expenses and a further $14,000 in disbursements.

Back to Bain and the Police.

David Bain and the justice system, faith in the justice system?

Selected individual comments from the general public.

  • Yes, the police were incompetent, and still are.
  • First, police mismanagement of evidence and habit of running mindlessly for a simple solution needs a remedy.
  • It seems that protecting the good name of the Police is more important than justice.
  • All this proves is that the police did not do their job properly.
  • But the police have continued to try to justify their actions rather than face up to the fact that they have put an innocent man in jail for all these years. Shame on the police for their dogged stupidity and being so self centred and small minded that they were unable to look at the evidence with open minds.
  • I have no faith at all in the justice system, the police etc need to be very careful who they arrest, they appear to frame people just to make their job easier and done with.
  • In all cases the rule should be that if the evidence is faked or planted or omitted the prosecutor and the arresting officer are put in jail for the equivalent time when the miscarriage of justice is discovered. This would protect the public from cops that are too eager to get promotions etc.
  • Do I trust the police to search for the truth- no. Do I believe that the police department en masse will fit the evidence to suit them - absolutely.
  • Let's hope he also gets the payout he deserves too, which for at least a decade in prison should be a substantial amount I would think. Perhaps this payment should come out of the Police budget and then they would be a little slower to finger innocent people in murder cases in the future.
  • It was entirely predictable that the police would support their own in the subsequent investigation of how the police conducted their inquiry. There is a culture in the police that needs changing.
  • The police have been shown up once again as having shown little integrity in their investigation of Mr Bain, and until they adequately investigate evidence and alibis and do not allow tampering with evidence, dishonest distortions of witness statements, and shonky "expert" testimony their motto without "fear or favour" seems decidedly hypocritical.The police have been overly sensitive lately about public vilification, but until the police and the Crown act with more integrity and moral ethics they will continue to destroy the lives of innocent people. Sadly cases like Mr Bain's highlight the bad policing and prosecuting hurting their colleagues in the process.
  • This is fantastic news for a case that has been poorly investigated by Police.
  • I never thought I would see gross injustices in NZ, but I am horrified at the justice system and have no faith in it at all. The police tend to be over-zealous in making allegations and this has spilled over into the courts.
  • There needs to be some serious investigations into how the NZ police force investigate crimes, because I see little reason to have any faith in the nz police force.
  • The worrying feature is the police pick their man and go for it regardless. The lack of evidence is clouded with innuendo, character assassination, and of course the secret witness.

Policewatch says Ms. King and the Management will have to do a lot more than mere lipservice to restore the faith of the public!!!!

Protesting against Police.

The majority Supreme Court decision overturning the disorderly-behaviour conviction of Allistair Brooker has angered the Police Association, which says it opens the way for officers to be harassed in their own homes.

Brooker staged his protest outside Constable Fiona Croft's home on the morning of March 18, 2003, after objecting to her executing a late-night search warrant at his house.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the decision was ludicrous.
He said it would invite people to stand and yell outside officers' homes, making them vulnerable, especially in small towns.
"Supreme Court judges, fortunately for them, tend to live behind nice big walls in leafy suburbs, and police officers are encouraged to live in the communities they police, Supreme Court judges would be very quickly demanding action if people they had sentenced started protesting outside their houses." O'Connor said.

Wellington barrister and Council for Civil Liberties chairman Michael Bott said the case was a turning point in the courts' appreciation of the Bill of Rights.
"Often people were arrested with no proof that public order was being disturbed, but rather because it was causing an inconvenience to the police", he said.

Brooker's wife, Sheryl said "It's been a challenge. There are costs that you end up paying when you stand up to continued (police) harassment and the view that some people make of us in the community," she said.
"The important thing was for us to try to do things lawfully and Al believed it was his lawful right (to protest).
"When the proper channels fail you, what else can you do but protest?"

Greg, only perceived bad cops get protested against, like bad judges, bad lawyers and other rotten apples in public office.

Policewatch says Angela Dalton of Balmoral amend your ways as a serenade is in the air.

David Bain, the Police and the PCA.

* June 20, 1994 - David Bain's parents, Robin and Margaret, two sisters, Laniet and Arawa, and brother, Stephen, are shot and killed in their Dunedin home. Bain calls emergency services in a distraught state.
* June 24, 1994 - Bain is charged with five counts of murder.
* May 29, 1995 - Jury finds Bain guilty on all five murder counts.
* June 21, 1995 - Bain sentenced to mandatory life term, with a minimum non-parole period of 16 years.
* April 16, 1997 - Joe Karam launches his book, David and Goliath. It says Robin, not David, was the killer, and that police botched the investigation.
* May 5, 1997 - Police appoint Assistant Commissioner Brion Duncan to head an independent inquiry reviewing police handling of the murder investigation.
* November 25, 1997 - Police in the murder investigation are cleared by the joint police and Police Complaints Authority inquiry. It finds no serious flaws in the police investigation and says criticism that police were incompetent is unjustified.
* March 1998 - Police officers to sue Karam over claims in his book.
* June 9, 2000 - Damages suit brought against Karam by two Dunedin detectives, one since retired, fails in the High Court at Auckland.
* May 10, 2007 - Privy Council delivers decision.

Mr Karam believed "without any shadow of doubt" that Bain was innocent.
There was not one defining moment when he believed Bain was innocent, but rather the evidence started to unravel, he said.
"Mainly because the police in particular were so obstructive in assisting with investigating things that didn't get investigated properly in the start."

Mr Karam has been vocal in his criticism of the police, alleging incompetence which resulted in the police suing him, unsuccessfully, for defamation.

Detective Senior Sergeant Kallum Croudis, who was the arresting officer in the case, said he was "stuck for words" after hearing the news.
"I couldn't tell you how I really feel. It wouldn't be professional, As there could be a retrial, any further comments would be sub judice, so it would not be wise to say anything further, I've just got a job to do."

Policewatch says perhaps after Davids compensation payout from the Police, the deadline for body armour might be be extended to 2010!!

Police Minister and Management endanger the frontline.

Police Minister admits police body armour botch-ups.
About 60 per cent of front-line officers are yet to get a vest!!

National Party police spokesman Chester Borrows asked in Parliament "Can the minister confirm that front-line police were first promised stab-resistant vests in June last year, then in February 2007 and then in May, but that fewer than half of officers have them now, all because management ordered the wrong colour, the wrong material, the wrong design and then the wrong sizes, which means that 1500 tiny vests are now in storage, wasting $1.5 million that could have been spent on other tools to keep front-line police safe?"

Ms King agreed there had been errors. The latest figures were that 3241 vests were issued to staff, 1500 were in the process of being issued and 1700 were in storage because they were too small.

Acting Sergeant Andrew Grice was stabbed four times when he and two other officers responded to a domestic incident in Hamilton on Wednesday.
Mr Grice would not have been so seriously injured if he had been wearing a vest.

Deputy Commissioner Rob Pope said the deadline for when all officers were expected to have the vests was February but that had since been re-adjusted to the end of the year.

Policewatch says a new broom is required for the Management and the Minister!!!!