Charge against officer dropped

The woman alleges the off-duty police duo harassed her and her son. Photo / Sarah Ivey

A police officer who was facing an allegation of disorderly behaviour has had the charge against him dropped.

The officer and a colleague were charged after an alleged incident between them, a woman and her son early on New Year's Day.

The woman alleges she and her 11-year-old were at a service station forecourt in Pukekohe when the off-duty officers harassed them.

The other officer is still facing a charge of offensive behaviour and will defend it at a hearing in July.

A court order prevents both officers from being named.

Prosecutor Kit Toogood, QC, told the Pukekohe District Court he had looked at the issue independently from the police and believed the charge against the first officer should be withdrawn.

He said that on the evidence he had seen, he didn't feel the officer's conduct was criminal, even though it might have been inappropriate.

Both officers were excused from appearing in court yesterday.

The second officer was granted continued interim name suppression by Judge Sharon McAuslan until after the defended hearing. That hearing has been set down for two days.