Benson-Pope 'bully' file release delayed

The police file on their investigation into the David Benson-Pope bullying allegations will not be released until next week.

A police spokesman said they had planned to release the file today, but after submissions from the cabinet minister's lawyer it had been delayed.

Police announced recently they would not be prosecuting Mr Benson-Pope over allegations he assaulted pupils while a teacher at Dunedin's Bayfield High School in the 1980s.

They found a prima facie case concerning two of the allegations -- that Mr Benson-Pope taped a student's hands to a desk while he had a tennis ball in his mouth, and another of striking a student in the face but the victims had not laid complaints at the time.

Mr Benson-Pope has continually denied the allegations, but has yet to front up to questions in Parliament since the police announcement.

There have been varying versions on what is in the police report with ACT leader Rodney Hide telling the House that it would show 19 students witnessed the tennis ball attack.

He said police had considered charging Mr Benson-Pope with assault, making a false statement to police, and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Deputy Prime Minister Michael Cullen has defended his colleague, saying the police investigation showed that the evidence of his accusers was highly disputed.

The accusers were bullies themselves, Dr Cullen said.

"The allegations are made by a small group, there is a huge group of evidence on the other side and I am confident if it ever proceeded to a trial that David would be able to clear his name very easily indeed, so in that situation it would be totally unfair to affect David's career in any way at all."

- NZPA