It was appropriate for police to lay charges after the Prime Minister's motorcade sped between Waimate and Christchurch on July 17 2004, a Police Complaints Authority (PCA) report released today says.
"I am satisfied that, following a thorough investigation and expert independent legal advice on the potential criminal
liability of the various parties, it was appropriate for the police to lay the charges they did," PCA head Justice Lowell Goddard said.
Charges were laid against five police officers and one civilian and in the course of a lengthy defended hearing and ensuing appeals all charges were disposed of without conviction.
Justice Goddard said she shared the view that the defendants felt that they were doing no more than their duty.
But the justification for the belief of urgency had not been properly established.
"As a result of inadequate control throughout, an unacceptable standard of driving ensued which led to numerous complaints," she said.
Complaints were laid by 16 members of the public about dangerous driving by the motorcade. Motorists were irate when they found out it was rushing to Christchurch to catch a flight to Wellington for an All Blacks rugby test match against Australia.
Justice Goddard said that with one minor exception the complaints received by police were handled in an acceptable manner.
The minor exception was a telephone complaint to the Southern Communications Centre on the day of the incident.
"The communicator's response did not met the required standard," the report said.
This was addressed by a performance review and remedial training.
Police did consider whether there was any culpability on the part of the Prime Minister Helen Clark and then cabinet minister Jim Sutton who accompanied her in the motorcade. Both provided statements.
"Police accepted independent advice, that other than the six individuals who were found to have cases to answer, there was no evidence upon which charges could be properly bought against any other person in the motorcade."
The report praised a review of Diplomatic Protection Squad standard operating procedures and urgent duty driving policy since the incident.
- NZPA
