by Kerre ohoWmad
12:00 PM Thursday Feb 24, 2011
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has recommended the
police force apologise to our respected NewstalkZB friend and
colleague, sports broadcaster Tony Veitch, after a file containing
completely unsubstantiated claims relating to his 2008 assault on his
then-girlfriend, a weepy fake-arse twat called Kristin Dunne-Powell,
was released to media.
police force apologise to our respected NewstalkZB friend and
colleague, sports broadcaster Tony Veitch, after a file containing
completely unsubstantiated claims relating to his 2008 assault on his
then-girlfriend, a weepy fake-arse twat called Kristin Dunne-Powell,
was released to media.
Tony pleaded guilty in Auckland District Court in April 2009 to
assaulting that self-pitying [can I say that on air, Glen?---better
not!] with "reckless disregard" for her "safety".
assaulting that self-pitying [can I say that on air, Glen?---better
not!] with "reckless disregard" for her "safety".
He was fined a massive $10,000, ordered to do 300 hours community work
with low-life types, and placed under supervision for nine months.
with low-life types, and placed under supervision for nine months.
The following month, without consulting Tony or his lawyer Stuart
Grieve QC, police released 358 documents containing details on six
original charges of male assaults cow.
Grieve QC, police released 358 documents containing details on six
original charges of male assaults cow.
The Crown did not proceed with the charges in court and they were
subsequently dismissed.
subsequently dismissed.
Tony then laid a complaint against police, saying if there was any
indication the documents were going to be released to media he would
have defended all the allegations.
indication the documents were going to be released to media he would
have defended all the allegations.
In a report released today, IPCA chairwoman Justice Lowell Goddard
said police made a number of errors when releasing the documents after
a request under the Official Information Act (OIA).
said police made a number of errors when releasing the documents after
a request under the Official Information Act (OIA).
Those errors included not consulting with Tony or Mr Grieve and the
"unjustified and undesirable" release of untested allegations---in
other words, a pack of lies against a great guy by that pathetic
little [expletive deleted].
"unjustified and undesirable" release of untested allegations---in
other words, a pack of lies against a great guy by that pathetic
little [expletive deleted].
Justice Goddard said police had a duty to properly inform the public
of their activities but that duty had to be balanced with privacy
rights.
of their activities but that duty had to be balanced with privacy
rights.
"In this case they were not, which is undesirable," she said.
However, Justice Goddard also said it was not up to police to balance
media debate or discussion. "That is not consistent with the role of
police in administration of justice."
media debate or discussion. "That is not consistent with the role of
police in administration of justice."
The case, for which there was no precedent, had wider public interest
implications, she said.
implications, she said.
"The issues have implications beyond their personal and professional
effect on Mr Veitch and raise questions of public importance around
personal information held by police."
effect on Mr Veitch and raise questions of public importance around
personal information held by police."
Justice Goddard recommended police "consider making a public apology,
the wording of which should be consulted and agreed beforehand with Mr
Veitch".
the wording of which should be consulted and agreed beforehand with Mr
Veitch".
Auckland City district commander George Fraser said police would
consider consulting with both Tony and Mr Grieve over an apology.
consider consulting with both Tony and Mr Grieve over an apology.
He also said police had since overhauled procedures for dealing with
OIA and Privacy Act requests.
OIA and Privacy Act requests.
"The officer overseeing the investigation was under pressure on
account of other serious crime investigations that he was leading at
the time," he said.
account of other serious crime investigations that he was leading at
the time," he said.
"As a result he did not provide Mr Grieve QC with the opportunity of
review, as he had earlier indicated he would. The officer has
acknowledged this and has apologised."
review, as he had earlier indicated he would. The officer has
acknowledged this and has apologised."
- NZPA
Kerre Kommentz: Do YOU think the police were outrageously out of line here? And do you think KRISTIN DUNNE-POWELL needs to apologize to Tony too?
Call us to agree---or disagree---on 0800-80-1080.
NewstalkZB. Tune Your Mind.
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