Young policeman told to lie, claims lawyer

Counties Manukau police are investigating allegations that a young officer was asked to lie about evidence he had gathered from a witness to a serious crime.

Lawyer Rob Moodie said the incident happened several weeks ago while the officer was working on a murder case, under the direction of a South Auckland detective sergeant.

Mr Moodie advised the officer, who is believed to have been in the police force for less than five years, to report the incident to his superiors.

However, after doing so Mr Moodie said the officer was branded a liar by a senior sergeant.

Mr Moodie has expressed concern about police investigating police and has called for an independent body to be set up to investigate such cases.

Counties Manukau police spokeswoman Angeline Barlow said police were investigating the officer's allegations but the case related to an aggravated robbery, not a murder.

She could not comment on how long the investigation would take.

Counties Manukau District Commander Steve Shortland said last night that the young officer was under investigation on a separate matter.

Judge Ian Borrin, from the Police Complaints Authority, said he had heard from Mr Moodie but could not comment any further at this stage.

The young officer's allegations follow the release this week of the findings of a six-month-long inquiry into police culture in the Counties Manukau District.

A judge sentencing a senior Counties Manukau police officer on an assault charge suggested there was a sick culture in the district.

The inquiry head, retired High Court Judge Sir David Tompkins, found no such culture existed but his report did uncover several cases of excessive force during arrests not being reported. Those cases have been, or are being, investigated.