Officer exploited police informant - judge

A female police informant has failed in her attempt to sue an officer who had a sexual relationship with her, but the judge who heard the case has slammed the detective's behaviour.

The woman said Detective Sergeant Peter Govers should not have kept his job and now wants police to reopen their investigation following the judge's comments about the way he acted with her when she was feeling vulnerable, the Dominion Post reported today.

Mr Govers, of Levin, was demoted to the rank of senior constable in 2007 after admitting disgraceful conduct, but was now relieving for a detective.

The woman, whose name is suppressed, argued in a civil case that she had felt obliged to fulfil Mr Govers' sexual requests because of his position.

She had helped police spy on a methamphetamine ring in 2005. Shortly afterwards, Mr Govers told her he could help if she was in trouble, and that he knew her children were in care and her violent partner had just gone to jail.

The woman said he asked her to perform a sex act on him, but court documents show Mr Govers denies this took place.

Last week, Wellington District Court Judge Susan Thomas dismissed the woman's claim for damages, but said Mr Govers had exploited the woman's vulnerable situation and entered into a sexual relationship with her.

- NZPA