Police in abuse of power row

Photo / Bradley Ambrose

A senior police officer has been accused of abusing their position after a friend complained about being delayed at a compulsory breath test.

An article in the latest edition of the Police Association's monthly magazine claims the cop took another officer to task for stopping an "ex-VIP" on their way to a sports match.

According to the magazine, the unnamed VIP - thought to stand for very important police officer - phoned a "current-VIP" at police headquarters in Wellington, who then rang the officer in charge of the checkpoint to call them to account.

Appearing in a Police News column called View From the Bottom, the entry said: "The ex-VIP wanted to see a very important game and was only delayed for a very short time due to there being no breath test, however this still caused him to get his knickers in a twist.

"Sadly the ex-VIP called on a friendly current-VIP at PNHQ who then called on the local RPM [Road Policing Manager] who was called to account for delaying said ex-VIP.

"What's the world coming to when an ex-VIP gets to interfere with [Standard Operating Procedures]?"

Senior figures associated with the police were reluctant to discuss the claims and national headquarters said there would be no investigation.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said the piece was a gossip column and did not represent the views of the union.

Police Minister Judith Collins declined to comment.

But the claims drew accusations of double standards from anti-drink driving group Crossroads.

"Everyone has to be treated equally, you can't have ranking officers abusing their positions," said a spokesman.

The spokesman said senior officers were on dangerous ground when they started looking after their friends.

"Just because someone is friends with a senior policeman that doesn't mean that that undermines the law, we have all got to be treated equally before the law."

In 2000, former Police Commissioner Peter Doone resigned after criticism in two high-level reports about his conduct on election night in 1999.

Then Deputy Commissioner Rob Robinson, who investigated the incident, said Doone had acted inappropriately after speaking to a junior constable who stopped a car driven by his partner, Robyn Johnstone.

Former Prime Minister Helen Clark was caught up in controversy in 2004 when a police motorcade she was in reached speeds of 172km/h on the way to Christchurch Airport so she could attend a rugby match in Wellington.

Two officers convicted of driving offences had their sentences quashed on appeal.

In December 2008, Superintendent Graham Thomas was removed from his position as head of the national prosecutions service after declining to take a breath-alcohol test after driving home from a police bar.