Officers suspended after 'routine audit'

A routine audit uncovered irregularities in the work of two police officers and led to their suspension.

West Coast officers Constable Peter McCutcheon and Constable Lynda Hine - a couple - have been stood down on full pay while police investigate discrepancies in their work.

Tasman District Superintendent Grant O'Fee would not confirm the reasons behind the suspensions but the Herald has been told Mr McCutcheon is alleged to have used his position to gain access to and search his partner's cellphone records.

Ms Hine is being investigated for allegedly lodging a false police report and failing to make inquiries she claimed she had made.

Mr McCutcheon is the sole-charge officer at Ross, south of Hokitika. His partner, Ms Hine, is stationed at Greymouth.

Neither officer could be reached by the Herald for comment this week.

"The public, in the fullness of time, will know what is going on," Mr O'Fee said.

The allegations had yet to be put to the officers concerned and he asked for the public to be patient. He was aware the rumour mill was "churning" on the West Coast.

The irregularities had been discovered "more or less through a routine auditing process" and were not due to any complaints by the public.

He said the investigation might take three or four weeks.

Police Minister Annette King would not discuss the decision to keep the matters secret, a spokesman said.