Brochures removed from police counter

Police are being warned against promoting lobby groups after a Northland police station displayed Sensible Sentencing Trust brochures.

The brochures promote justice reform, advocate tougher sentences for violent criminals and invite membership applications.

They were on display on the front counter of Whangarei Police Station and available to visitors, but police staff were told to remove them this week.

The police are required to be politically neutral.

Police national headquarters spokesman Jon Neilson said it was not police policy to distribute lobbying-type material.

He said material from bodies providing a community service, such as Neighbourhood Support and Victim Support, was acceptable but the Sensible Sentencing Trust brochure was not.

"It's not police policy. They should be withdrawn," he said.

Northland police Superintendent Viv Rickard had staff remove them.

Sensible Sentencing Trust Auckland co-ordinator Sue Slater said she was "hacked off" that the material had been removed, as she had sent it to the station only three weeks ago.

"What harm is it doing? They're there for the general public. How else are we meant to let people know that we are out there?"

Mrs Slater, a former court stenographer, said she knew of many New Zealand stations - including her local Howick station - where the brochures were available.

- NZPA