Greens want police inquiry to cover whole country

The Green Party wants an inquiry into police culture in South Auckland extended to cover the whole country.

Justice Minister Phil Goff told Parliament yesterday the inquiry would focus on the Manukau-Wiri police district, because that was where the incidents that triggered the inquiry occurred.

Retired High Court Judge Sir David Tompkins will oversee the inquiry, prompted by evidence heard during the trial of a South Auckland senior police officer who was convicted of assaulting a 17-year-old.

The Green Party's police spokesman, Keith Locke, welcomed the inquiry but said the rest of New Zealand should be included.

He said that during the trial of Senior Sergeant Anthony Laime Solomona another officer, Sergeant John Nelson, had said taking photographs of prisoners being humiliated occurred in stations throughout the country.

"Given what Sergeant Nelson said, it seems that it's not just a problem in South Auckland," Mr Locke said.

"I would like to see other areas also subjected to scrutiny."

His colleague Nandor Tanczos cited a West Coast case last year, when John Menzies successfully sued police and was awarded $35,000.

Mr Menzies alleged four officers brutally beat him after threatening him with arrest for no reason.

Mr Goff defended the police, and said the 47 officers disciplined last year for misconduct represented 0.5 per cent of the police force.

At Solomona's trial Judge Bruce Davidson spoke of a "sick" police culture which included making suspects wear demeaning signs.

Solomona has been remanded for sentencing.

- NZPA