Woman sues police for piercing removal

File photo / APN

A woman who says a Christchurch police officer used boltcutters to remove five piercings, including one in her genital area, is suing the officer for $150,000.

The woman alleges the policewoman removed her piercings after she was taken into custody for obstruction in mid-2008, a charge she was acquitted of in early 2009, The Press newspaper reported.

The complainant, believed to be in her 30s, is suing the officer for abuse of her position, unlawful sexual connection, trespass to the person and breaching the Bill of Rights. Her name is suppressed.

Her lawyer Tony Greig said his client was not concerned about money, and only wanted acknowledgement that the action was unacceptable.

"She just doesn't want the same thing to happen to other people," he said.

Christchurch police would not comment while the case, set down for May, was before the courts.

Piercing professional Jeremy Spivey said he has replaced piercings for a number of people who have had them removed by police, adding that he believed the practice was designed to prevent self-harm.

He said police were "quite brutal" about cutting off his own ear-piercing after he was arrested for drunk and disorderly behaviour last year.

- NZPA