KEY POINTS:
The long-awaited report of the Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct by Dame Margaret Bazley was made public at midday today.
The Bazley report was ordered by the Government in February 2004 following allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas she was gang-raped in the 1980s by three officers.
Legal wrangling delayed the commission's report six times, but Governor-General Anand Satyanand finally saw it last week.
Inquiry author Dame Margaret said she saw evidence of some "disgraceful" conduct by police officers and associates, involving the exploitation of vulnerable people.
"However, there was no evidence of any concerted attempt across the organisation as a whole to cover up unacceptable behaviour," she said.
The following is reaction to the report since it was made public today:
Greg O'Connor, Police Association President:
"Reading the report will help reassure people that the errant behaviour by police officers is vigorously investigated and strictly dealt with.
"Some improvements are recommended. The Association fully supports the need for a code of conduct and we have been working with police on formulating such a code.
"The Police Association has no interest in protecting police officers who commit criminal offences or indulge in inappropriate behaviour, however officers deserve the right to have the veracity of any allegations made against them tested before being acted upon. The principles of natural justice should apply to police officers too."
Mark Burton, Justice Minister:
"All recommendations relating to the Police Complaints Authority in the Commission of Inquiry report will be implemented.
"As regards those recommendations requiring legislative change, these will be progressed through amendments to the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, which was put on hold until the outcome of the Inquiry was known for this very reason.
"In terms of those recommendations with an operational focus, I have spoken to Justice Goddard and she has indicated her intention to action those and that work is already underway on a number of them."
Annette King, Police Minister:
"Of the 60 recommendations, 48 directly relate to NZ Police, and the other 12 to the Police Complaints Authority. I am really encouraged that police have already begun acting across a range of complex issues, and Dame Margaret has recognised this in her report.
"Such examples of sexual misconduct, and inadequate investigation of some complaints, were indeed disgraceful when they occurred, and would be disgraceful at any time, but we can all be encouraged that Dame Margaret found that only a small number of officers were involved in such behaviour at the time, that there was no evidence of a concerted attempt across the organisation to cover up such behaviour, and that there have been significant improvements in standards and practices over the past 25 years.
"It is easy to underestimate the impact the past three years have had on police morale. The behaviour of a few officers has cast doubt on the integrity of the vast majority of staff. Dame Margaret has condemned the actions of the few, but the vast majority of the police can hold their heads high after this report.
"We have an excellent police service that New Zealanders can trust. And it will be an even better service in the future as it puts in place the new practices and policies discussed in this report, and debated among police themselves over the past three years."
Howard Broad, Police Commissioner:
"We have learned from this process. We will own and fix any problems and focus on the future of police and policing in New Zealand."
"I acknowledge the hurt and harm that has been done to you, your families and supporters.
"I am truly sorry that these few of our number have caused so much pain and grief that undermined that sense of high expectations New Zealanders rightly have of their police.
"The overwhelming majority of officers carry out their public duties to the highest standard -- day in and day out -- in very challenging circumstances.
"We all feel it when we get marked with the brush of errant behaviour.
Implementation of many of the report's recommendations are already well advanced.
"This programme of work will give the public added confidence we are treating the report's recommendations, and the underlying issues, with the seriousness they deserve."
Sue Kedgley, Green Party Women's Affairs Spokesperson:
Ms Kedgley is calling for an apology from the police for historic wrongdoings.
"It is essential that senior police officers make it clear they deplore the culture of violence and abuse that permeated certain sections of the police force, and apologise for the harm this caused to the women involved.
"People's trust and confidence in the force has been badly shaken. This will have long term repercussions for the force unless decisive steps are taken to restore people's confidence. Until they apologise, many will perceive that the culture within the police force hasn't really changed," Ms Kedgley says.
"Further changes are needed to protect rape victims in courts and to make it easier for people to lay complaints against the police." Ms Kedgley says.
Peter Dunne, United Future leader:
"While I accept that the police are more vulnerable than most to malicious allegations, it is impossible to ignore the fact that these numbers show there has been an unhealthy cancer at the core of our police force for far too long.
"I am particularly concerned that the development of this evil culture and the protection of misbehaving officers behind a wall of silence has been helped by a system of promotion within police ranks that rely on senior officers advancing the careers of their mates from the ranks below.
"Cronyism is an unhealthy culture in any organisation and as a result of this Commission of Inquiry, I hope to see the police develop a more independent and transparent method of promotion."
- NZ HERALD/NZPA
