Officer's refusal of breathtest 'not good look' - Collins

It was "not a good look" that a top policeman refused to take a breath test and was now on paid leave, Police Minister Judith Collins said today.

Superintendent Graham Thomas, head of prosecutions at Police National Headquarters, was cleared by an internal investigation and was now on six months' paid "medical rehabilitation".

He has been on leave since he was asked to take a breath-alcohol test after driving home from a police bar in Wellington.

Police knocked on Mr Thomas' front door and asked him to take the breath test.

After refusing to take the breath test, Mr Thomas was spoken to by officials at police national headquarters.

"It's not a good look, I don't think it's very helpful at all for the police," Ms Collins told reporters today.

"We expect a lot from the police and so we should."

She said it was something she was "not able to get involved in" because it was an employment issue.

Prime Minister John Key also declined to comment saying it was an employment issue.

It is not an offence to refuse an initial breath-screening test. But a police officer could then require someone to take an evidential breath test. Refusing to take the second breath test is an offence.

- NZPA