KEY POINTS:
Police Minister Annette King wants any more allegations about police sexual conduct to come out now so they can be properly dealt with and the force can move on.
But do you have faith in the present police force?
This forum debate has now closed. Here is a selection of your views on the topic.
Pete Coleman
I think the Police have an incredibly difficult job to do, and in the main, do it very well. Lets not confuse the strange antics of a small number with the overwhelming amount of good the Police do in our communities every day. Maybe the local bobby on the beat on our streets late on a Friday night has some strong views about our conduct, but even that doesn't stop them leaping into the fray to protect public and property when some hoons get out of hand. I think its time to give them some credit where credit is due!
Alan Wilkinson
Where there is power, some will always abuse it. Some police are professional liars but it is impossible to know how many. Our government continually gives the police and bureaucracy greater powers over ordinary citizens. The police have enormous and increasing resources for manipulating the media and the political processes in their favour. Corruption, arrogance and abuses will inevitably follow those trends unless and until voters revolt.
Caroline
Personally I have faith that most police officers are decent people who work hard at their often difficult jobs and do their best. Unfortunately there are always bad apples in the bunch, and they can give everyone else a bad name. I like to think I would give a police officer the benefit of the doubt, but I would not blindly trust them to do the right thing, because not all of them will. This is why there must be accountability for wrongdoing by police. It is also why we cannot afford to be passing bills that give total discretion to police, because we cannot guarantee that they will always get it right. After all, we are seeing evidence right now that they dont.
Kevin
I do not have faith in the police force. I do have faith in the majority of serving individuals but the force is inadequate and weighted down by historic attitudes. society has advanced considerably in recent decades. Most of us do not require a small army of bullies to keep us in line. We simply need more good police and separate approaches to gangs and ordinary citizens; citizens who usually get no service due to the time consumed by scumbags and drunks. Too many people do not understand what it means to be part of a society and the need for us all to respect the rules our system defines. Yet we poor all our resources into this group. Better work stories?..I doubt it; same losers night after night. More police. Smarter laws. Real people protecting real people.
Leslie
It aint over til its over. The police have 2 options: to come out of it stronger and smarter or bury their heads up their posterior as in past. I would hate to be part of the police force now. Who in their right mind would want to be tainted by this throughout daily duties? Incidentally, who has looked at missing persons lists etc for the relevant locations? As time goes by, I find it hard to believe they stopped at rape. What a bunch of losers. And their wives? O yea.
James
Definitely not,We have an extremely corrupt and inefficent police force.We have had our home raided by them,without a warrant,the raid terrorized my 92 year old mother in law,who by the way was recovering from a heart attack and a stroke, Raided my teenage daughters bedroom and turned out my sons underwear drawer.Illegally and without a warrant. The police illegally removed us from our business premises as one of them was friendly with our landlord, We had honoured all of our committments. Lied in court and attempted to interfere with witnesses. Refused to act when we were robbed. We need a full public inquiry into police corruption
Fish-head
Whats good in the police force these days? They have no time to listen to citizens break-ins much to the disgust of the public who feel powerless now. Just two weeks ago, a laptop was stolen from our local school and the police did not even bother to come and investigate. They are no more caring for the community. Perhaps, they prefer to sit in front of their PCs instead of giving a helping hand to the public. After a break-in or loss, it would help if the police visit the victim and give some support.
Richard McGrat
How many criminals do we have in the police force anyway? I certainly do not have much faith in the police force.
Angela Smith
Absolutely no faith in the police at all. Aside from the rape cases there is general dishonesty permeating the government and police force. Helen Clark who apportions blame to her drivers during a high speed journey to a rugby game. The police intimidate youth and are also intimidating to the public in most cases. I have witnessed police brutality towards a teenage boy and watched an adult passerby intervene at the way the boy was treated and was then subjected to the same treatment. The police are the biggest gang in NZ & I feel most distrustful of them.
Ray Eyre
I do not have a single ounce of faith in the Police or the so called Justice system in NZ. How can anyone have faith in a legal system that works in favor of the criminals and treats the innocent victims as scum?. There is too many self righteous nannies in the corridors of power. These nannies want to leave their marks on the wall of remembrance and don't give a damn how they do it. New Zealand is overrun with stupid little laws that waste time. If the legal system meant what it said when sentencing someone then, Yes I would have faith in the Police and the System. But, until then, no faith at all.
Col
Why do the police not get drug tested? It is alright for all sorts of companies in NZ to drug test, ie Air New Zealand, Ministry of Defence, etc. Or are they too scared about what they are going too find?
Peter Hall
Pretty much sums up the police at the moment! Definition of a gang is: a group of individuals, juvenile and or adult, who associate on a continuous basis, form an allegiance for a common purpose, and are involved in delinquent or criminal activity. This definition is simple and functional. It allows the police departments to take proactive law enforcement action normally before the gang gets an organized structure. The gang may range from a loose knit group of individuals who hang around together and commit crimes together, to a formal organization with a leader or ruling council, gang colors, gang identifiers, and a gang name.
Edgar Smallwood
No! Principally because of the Political Influence and Interference practiced by the Prime Minister and her Government. The current Minister of Police is a " Claytons Minister , a puppet in the P.Ms hands. She has no qualifications or experience that can justify her appointment. We have seen a marked decline in both the capability, the ethics, professionalism and the standard of our Police Force. It will need a Minister and a Government with considerably stronger resolve, ability and ethics than what we have presently to resolve this crisis.
Carl
No, I personally dont and I never have. Too many times has myself or people close to me been let down by the police. I have been assaulted by riot police at a Symphony under the Stars when I calmly asked if we could exit the Domain down a path they seemed to be blocking for no reason. I have friends in the police force, a couple of which I disagree with. Do police in NZ sign up for the power... in my experience, yes.
Huhana Hickey
The police taser those with mental health issues, deaf persons and others with disabilities. I have no faith in the system at all or in the Police being able to protect or even implement the law if they themselves engage in the same sometimes illegal practices of the very people they arrest. If they choose this line of work there is an expectation they will not themselves go and break the law themselves.
Dick Thompson
Aware that excessive powers lead to corruption, it is especially hypocritical for a cabinet minister to preach restraint, after bestowing such powers on NZ bureaucracies. EG: The 'Bill of the Power of General Competence' effectively created mass 'Bureaucratic dictatorships' within ALL areas of "Public Service" including the NZ Police. Another bill passed without forethought to inevitable consequences, similar to the current "Anti-smacking" bill, that the majority of law-abiding Kiwi families are desperate to resist. Police drug-dealing with other anti-social behaviour are a well-known facet of historical problems with our NZ Police force! -Given the unfortunate results, stemming from an over-legislated NZ society, perhaps legislation is in greater need of "political" revue? A perfect case for "Referendum-Based" legislation!
Mike
Mosts have heard of friends who have had dealings with the police over the years and then see behaving as they are little Gods and above the law. I feel ashamed of the police. Certainly would not trust them
William David Bircumshaw
Without reference to historic cases, any faith I have (or do not have) in the present police force would be entirely devoid of rationale.
Jacqueline Havea
Unfortunately it only takes a couple of rotten apples to ruin our basket of fruit. I believe the guys in the Police force do a fantastic job, with what they have to put up with. Abuse, attacks, smears, it is not a job I would apply for, however, in regards to these other serving officers who used their power of being police man to have sex, it just came to my mind, these men are sex starved, how in the world did they meet their current wives? Well thats none of my business, however the quicker the Police force stamp this kind of actions, so that the people of NZ dont have any regrets in approaching Police or even stopping at a check point. Personally I love the Police Force.