PM expects 'safe and legal travel'

Police constables Simon Vincent (left) along with Ian Howard and an unnamed civilian driver (not pictured) were convicted of dangerous driving. Picture / Mark Mitchell

Prime Minister Helen Clark wrote a letter to police expressing concern that two of her motorcade staff's careers would be blighted by their prosecution.

But she also said she should be able to rely on the police and Internal Affairs driver and staff for safe and legal travel requirements.

The Timaru District Court yesterday heard for the first time Helen Clark's own view on the motorcade when her letter was read out.

As the trial ended yesterday, three men were convicted of dangerous driving during the rushed trip from Waimate to Christchurch.

In the letter, Helen Clark said she gave no instruction to get to Christchurch in time to catch the flight.

"I accepted the advice given to me as I believe I should be able to rely on the police and Internal Affairs driver and staff for safe and legal travel requirements," the letter said.

"What this has revealed is the diplomatic protection squad lacked clear guidelines about how to act when arrangements change as they did in this situation."

In the Timaru District Court, Judge John Strettell said he felt considerable sympathy for the convicted men.

The trio, police constables Ian Howard and Simon Vincent, and a civilian driver who cannot be named, were convicted and ordered to each pay a fine of $675 and $130 court costs.

Howard and the civilian driver were convicted and discharged on charges of travelling too closely.

Howard was acquitted on a second charge of dangerous driving, as was the civilian driver, who was also acquitted of a charge of careless driving.

Three others on trial - Clint Vallender, a senior constable, Alister Doonan, a constable, and a diplomatic protection officer who cannot be named - were acquitted of the driving charges against them.

Judge Strettell said the three were let down by the system.

They had no briefing from the senior protection officer who was in control of the motorcade, no indication of how they were to drive, no guidance from their commanding officer and there was no policy or protocol that specifically applied to this type of situation, he said.

However, he said the men had to be held accountable for their own driving.

"Each of the three drivers, in their desire to fulfil expectations imposed on them, didn't simply drive quickly, they drove dangerously."

Doonan was cleared of a charge of dangerous driving.

Vallender and the diplomatic protection squad officer were acquitted on charges of being party to or causing dangerous driving.

Judge Strettell found that two manoeuvres by the motorcade as described by eyewitnesses were clearly dangerous.

About 7km south of Hinds, in mid-Canterbury, the motorcade had forced a bus to lurch off to the side of the road as it travelled down the centre. Near Rakaia it had passed on no-passing lines between two bridges.

Judge Strettell said it was proven that the diplomatic protection squad officer was in charge of the motorcade and he was advised by Helen Clark's former press secretary, David Lewis, of the need to catch a certain flight from Christchurch.

None of the drivers was advised of the reason for the urgency of the motorcade trip or questioned it.

When Vincent sought instructions on speed he was told by Vallender it should be "up there".

Judge Strettell said there was little doubt the motorcade passed other motorists at speeds up to 150km/h.

The six men who faced charges were not speaking to media yesterday. Mr Scott, who represented Howard, Doonan and Vincent, said it was disappointing that two of his clients had been convicted but they were principally relieved it was all over.

"It has been a long process and pretty hard on their families," Mr Scott said.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the men on trial were good cops let down by their administration.

Police assistant commissioner Peter Marshall said yesterday that police had already made changes to their best-practice procedures in response to the motorcade incident.