KEY POINTS:
Cleared of all charges after three years of investigations and trials, suspended Assistant Commissioner Rickards' first public words yesterday were: "I was a police officer three years ago, and I am a police officer today."
Asked by the Herald if that meant he would return to work at the Auckland Central police station on Monday, he replied: "I'm the district commander for Auckland City. That's my police station."
Asked if it was acceptable for Rickards to have group sex, his lawyer said half of NZ had done it. Do you think this is true?
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This forum is now closed. Here is a selection of your views. Some views have been edited.
Ana
Since when did what people do sexually or anything in their private life come up for discussion? Whether or not one participates in group sex (as long as it is between consenting adults) is not or should it be anyones business. It is really sad when you think how backward people really are. What one does in private is their business unless it is causing harm then who are we to comment on such activities?
Dean
If such activity is not breaking the law, why should we care? Your question is biased, it infers this is deviant behaviour which some may or may not agree with. We are happy for police to go undercover and break the law in carrying out their duties, lets not get on the high moral ground of group sex.
Alison
GP (below) is absolutely spot-on. The morality (or otherwise) of group sex is not the issue here. The point is that abuse of power and position by the strong contravenes the basic principles of our democratic society (which, ahem, our constabulary is pledged to uphold). Some readers clearly need reminding that rape (with or without the insertion of foreign objects into underage girls) has nothing to do with sexual pleasure - and everything to do with control, humiliation and brutality.
Simon
While group sex among consenting adults is great, group sex involving policemen and a very young girl. much younger than the policemen is a very dodgy situation. Even if such men believed it to be consensual at the time, they should know that it is not appropriate give their age and their position as police.
S Mohanakrishnan
The point is not whether half the NZ population have had group sex, the point is if half or a majority of population does something, does it make it acceptable or pleasant or legal. How about smoking or drinking then? If it is acceptable because only a large percentage of population is doing it, then our laws should be re-written and continuously updated to reflect that percentage. Is that what the esteemed lawyer wants? How absurd to justify something on the basis of number of people doing it? There are two courts, legal and public opinion. The lawyer should remember that public opinion can result in modification of law in a democracy. So what is okay or escapable today may not be so tomorrow. And then the same lawyer will have to live and practice the revised law.
Andy
Fully half the nation, which makes it two million people, have been involved in group sex? What rubbish! As to Rickards, in my opinion by his conduct, his words, and the friends he chooses to keep, he is no role model for any decent society to be proud of. He is therefore most unsuitable to be a police officer, and far less a police chief.
Mike
What about the fact he was still getting full salary. (Did I read $150k?) and getting legal aid?
Bruce Hubbard
Do other accused receive full-pay ($150,000. - $159,000. per year) while suspended from their jobs awaiting judicial outcome? No. Do they obtain extensive suppression of prior convictions? No. Is this justice? No.
John
What a lot of prudes there are, talking about what is moral and what is legal and being totally confused between the two. I have had group sex several times - all consenting adults. And actually it was great. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves (a lot) and no-one was harmed. Have a look on the web. It happens all the time, all over NZ. It is common - and it is not illegal. Try not to get confused between your own uptight puritanical views and what is real crime.
Richard
Half the country is not doing it but I bet they wish they were. Cops need to lift their game because there are some pretty stupid ones out there if you believe the press. As for all these woman pouring out their grief in court 20 years on, I do not quite get it! I do not think Clint can have his police job back after announcing his close association with two men that are currently criminals.
Turia
Hey Mr Lawyer, group sex? Half of our population? Get over yourself. Most of us are normal, ordinary and good people, who do not go round in groups looking for vulnerable people to violate with bottles and batons. That is not group sex but pure violence and people who do it need to pay the price.
Kel
Amazing how many people have had such a strong reaction about this. How many guys (seriously) have not thought about group sex? If you have not, you are either a eunuch or just a really devoted Christian. I would say half the country has thought about it, but maybe one or two per cent have actually partaken in it. This lawyer needs to stop making up random statistics, just like Marcus pointed out. I think the police are almost all corrupt and on a power trip.
GT
I do not care if they have group sex. I do care that they think that group sex involves inserting foreign objects into young girls. I do care if they have sex with young girls who have not consented, having lured them with false pretences. I think it is disgusting, and I dont think there is any place for morally reprehensible people like that law enforcement. I shudder to think of the attitude they must display when encountering rape and abuse victims in the course of carrying out their duties.
Alan Wilkinson
I doubt that the proportion of New Zealanders who have group sex exceeds the proportion of police who are professional liars. In fact there might be a considerable overlap between the two groups.
Andrew Atkin
If you do not like New Zealands sexual behaviour, then you should look into the things that lead to perversions in the first place - that is, early childhood damage from neurotic, ignorant and neglectful parents and also serious infantile and prenatal traumas especially. You can put pressure on people to control their behaviour so that they basically pretend not to be rapists and homosexuals etc, but that doesnt change anything on a real level. We are who we are regardless of how we are incentivised to act.
Bourbonjon
Obviously I am in the wrong half of the country? Where is this mystical land of love en mass and how do I get there? Seriously, if you start setting moral clauses on police concerning their legal sexual behaviour, where does it stop? You will be telling politicians they can not partake in gay sex, cricketers that they can not smoke a cigarette, McDonalds that it can not sell hamburgers and basically that no one can do anything (even if its legal and does not interfere with their job) because someone somewhere may not like the idea that someone somewhere is doing something they would not do themselves. I do not like donuts so therefore should policemen be allowed to eat them? What is wrong with group sex anyway? I have never done it and (depending on who else would be in the group) do not think I would ever want to. But it is not illegal. If people wish to have group sex it is their right to do so. As long as what people do does not affect my rights in this society, I could not give a stuff what they are up to. If Mrs Next door wants to get it on with the milkman, postman, and the local rugby team it has got nothing to do with me. If I am invited to attend I can exercise my rights in a free and just society and decline the offer.
Ali
I am appalled that Mr Rickards lawyer made that statement. I believe that a man in that position should have better morals. Not only is group sex not socially acceptable ,any man of his age, having sex with teenage partners is abhorrent.
Evie Lane
The reported remarks from Rickards yesterday after the trial deem him to be unable to speak without venom and disdain about the behaviour of the three accused in the past. He is therefore unsuited to even be a police officer let alone "Go back to being the Auckland Police chief" I have never seen such behaviour from anyone in his position before and he clearly regards his behaviour as "acceptable". I also regard his counsels remark that " half New Zealanders have done it" to be insulting in the highest degree.
Nick
A totally inappropriate comment and from my experience totally untrue.
RW
Unfortunately, this case was nothing to do with group sex. It was about a non-consensual abuse of power. All this talk about group sex is just to divert us from acknowledging this fact.
Bella (former police staff)
I have just read all the comments made on this subject and I must say that some of the people who have sent in comments are idiots. It is everybodys personal business what they do in their lives sexually. Why should we all judge him or anybody for that fact? It does not matter what he does for a job. Everyone has the right to do sexually what they feel like.
Eric West
Having had a career initially in law Enforcement and latterly in an industry which, whilst not in any way focussed on the sex industry, supplied goods and services to that industry, I have to agree with John Haigh that it is a by far from an uncommon practice. His estimate of 50 per cent is, of course, hyperbole, but the actual percentage is probably far higher than most New Zealanders, myself included, would feel morally comfortable with. My own opinion is that it is not, and never has been, a spectator sport.
Richard James
I personally do not believe what a person does in their sexual life, as long as it is legal and consental is anybodys business. For people to then comment that group sex is wrong or on moral issues, shows to me what a bunch of prudes Nz is becoming. A persons sexual activities are not the business of others, nor do they represent their morals or work ability. Personally a large number of people I know have had group sex. Seems to me a bunch of ignorant prudes are commenting in the views to this. As for the Heralds topic how bad is the nations sexual behaviour, there is nothing wrong with any form of sexual activity that is legal and congenital, you should feel shamed for trying to make out there is.
John
I doubt that John Haigh would have any idea of the proportion of New Zealanders who have had group sex. He does not look like he gets out much. Gang-banging has mainly been a "sport" of the alcohol fuelled "boys" found in sports clubs and macho institutions like the police as some sort of "right of passage".
Marcus
Stewart Mcfarlane states "NZ does not engage in group sex or even want to." Well thank you for speaking on behalf of the nation Stewart! Maybe the statement was not warranted but how does anyone know what people do in the privacy of their own homes, and does anyone else care? Whether people engage in group sex is totally irrelevant within the topic of morality. Half the people making comments here are probably jealous because no one will have sex with them apart from their suffering partners. But then again 42 per cent of people make up statistics on the spot.
Craig Johnson
They are delusional. If they think that group sex is acceptable morality, they are living in a fantasy world - literally. Having been employed in the NZ Police (during the period the offending is alleged to have taken place), I believe that this sort of behaviour does occur.
Fiona Standen
This man is completely deluded! Probably very few people have engaged in or would wish to engage in group sex and would find such an idea abhorrent. As a police officer, he should not be describing convicted rapists as good friends, how is it acceptable for a police officer to be friends with violent criminals? Even though he has been found not guilty, his comments are disgraceful and he should stop embarrassing the police force and resign.
Anonymous Angry Kiwi Guy
The fact that he stated that he stood by and considered the two former police officers convicted of rape his friends means he does not have the right moral calibre or attitude to be an officer in the police force. Such guys have a pretty sick attitude to their positions of power and woman in general. Police officers need to be "role models" for our community even more so than celebrities. At the moment all they have done is consistently demonstrate to the public they are a "law onto themselves."
Mark
Mr Rickards would have to be considered a very lucky man should he get back on the job with the police. I believe his past will determine his future. His attitude toward sexual relationships does not stand him in good stead to be a leader in any form as what he believes will affect his judgment. We need leaders in all public offices that reflect a high standard of morals and good judgement.
Don
As a counsellor of 30 years standing, working mainly with ages 18 - 50 years in a tertiary educational institution, I can unequivocally state that this is totally incorrect. The lawyer making the statement is clearly ignorant of social mores, or is sensationalising. Maybe 50 per cent of his upper income cohorts engage in group sex, but it is certainly not the norm for ordinary New Zealanders
Dawn Jarman
Absolutely Not, Would never have entertained the idea.
Sandra Peake
What? No, not half of NZ have had group sex. The whole idea of that is totally disgusting.
Tim Briggs
That is bollocks. Half of NZ can not have even thought about having group sex let alone had it.
Tamblin
No. No, it is totally unacceptable, for any high-ranking officer, to not have impeccable high moral standards. It is okay for low-ranking officers to have "group sex", hence they will never alleviate themselves through the ranks, since they are clearly making their moral choice, but also a choice to not put their career first. Society can not set the tone for people at the top, who are involved in policy-making, or the justice-system, that slack-morals are okay.
Marc
I do not think that is right in any sense.I think they are out of touch with reality in their power bubble.
R Scott
I find the comments distasteful. Here is a man that is trying to make light of a serious situation. A senior police officer should be setting a better example.
Paul F
What an idiotic statement. Only a tiny number of New Zealanders have had group sex! They may think that it is a mainline activity but they are simply deluding themselves.
Peter Webby
If half the people in NZ have had group sex as Clint Rickards lawyer suggests, that means everyone in NZ has had group sex, based that half where males and the other half were females!
MF
The opinion of the lawyer is rubbish. He should have been asked by the journalist whether he himself was part of the half who allegedly had engaged in it.
Stewart Mcfarlane
NZ does not engage in group sex or even want to.
>> Read another forum thread related to the case
