Once upon a time, a generation or two ago, a certain level of respectful behaviour was required of those living within the borders of a civilised community. Our fathers and grandfathers were expected to pull their socks up in public and hold doors open for ladies.
Respect was something given to people in authority (such as police) and those same authority figures were trusted to get on with their jobs in the way they saw fit without the fear of an inquiry every time a difficult judgment call came their way.
In the case of what I call "boy-racer-gate", the police admit that with the benefit of hindsight, things could have been done better, they have apologised to those involved, it should be end of story.
When you are dealing with a fast-developing situation that has the potential to escalate out of control, sometimes the needs of a few must be sacrificed for the safety and wellbeing of the many.
My sympathies are with the majority of drivers in this incident who were playing the game according to the rules and ultimately in the name of a good cause. Sadly, there are always the idiots who let the side down, escalate a problem and create a situation where innocent people get inconvenienced.
But to say their human rights were breached? To launch an inquiry?
Two-hundred-and-fifty people were involved in the Christchurch boy racer gathering. Thirty-one complaints were made. Doesn't that suggest something?
In the end, several unsafe vehicles were pulled from the road, including one with a drunk driver behind the wheel.
If a bunch of others couldn't go to the loo for a while and had to skip a meal as a consequence, the total benefit versus harm still comes out in favour of the police action.
In my opinion (and let's remember, folks, this is my opinion and I don't expect everyone or even anyone to share it), it's about time the thinkocrats who sit about writing rules on what constitutes a breach of human rights took a deep breath, along with a large dose of common sense, and focused their attention on increasing protections for those who need it most, instead of investing time and money on those who don't really need it at all.