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| NEWS > 14 May 2007 |
Other related articles:
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Clint Rickards said the police investigation against him was unfair and that his arrest followed an attempted "ambush" interview at the Auckland central police station where he had previously been commander.
Detective Senior Sergeant Roy McGregor yesterday told the court how he met Rickards and his lawyer John Haigh, QC, at the station in March 2005 to discuss a woman's allegations of sexual violation.
Mr McGregor would not name the woman despite previous requests so Rickards refused to be interviewed.
Mr McGregor then charged Rickards with kidnapping and indec... Read more
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 Article sourced from
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Stuff.co.nz - Wellington,New Z
14 May 2007
This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.
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Allegations against Broad a 'w
Former colleagues are defending Police Commissioner Howard Broad against allegations he watched the screening of a bestiality film in his home in the 1980s amid calls for a Royal Commission of Inquiry into police behaviour.
Mr Broad has been accused of watching the film during a police party at his Dunedin home 26 years ago.
Mr Broad told NZPA yesterday that he did not see the movie which was brought to the party without his knowledge and Prime Minister Helen Clark and Police Minister Annette King had expressed their confidence in him.
Investigate magazine claimed Mr Broad watched the bestiality video at his house with other police officers in 1981.
The magazine also alleged Mr Broad, while under the influence of alcohol, groped female staff when stationed in Dunedin.
Mr Broad said the film was shown at a party in his house without his prior knowledge and permission.
He said he was elsewhere in the house when the movie was shown.
He denied allegations that he groped female staff.
Investigate editor Ian Wishart said his magazine had been shown names and specific allegations against a large number of current and former police officers said to have been involved in various offences, including sexual misconduct.
The officers from various police districts and National Headquarters.
"The magazine is calling for an immediate, full Royal Commission of Inquiry into the performance of the New Zealand Police, with wide terms of reference and full powers to subpoena, compel and take evidence on oath," Wishart said.
"Our informants do not believe the police have sufficient integrity to investigate these allegations against senior officers, and no other independent law enforcement agency exists capable of investigating the police."
Two former colleagues who were at the party at Mr Broad's house yesterday came forward in his defence and to confirm his version of events. They say the allegations are part of a "witch-hunt".
Peter Gibbons, a former detective senior sergeant, who served with Mr Broad in Dunedin in the 1980s, told NZPA a fellow police officer brought the film to the party but was "shunned" by everyone when he played it.
Mr Gibbons said Mr Broad was "pretty annoyed" at the man and that everyone left the room when the film started, except for the person who bought it.
Mr Gibbons would not name the man.
Mr Broad was aware of the film when it was put on and may have caught a glimpse of it but did not watch it, Mr Gibbons said.
Mr Broad did not know the person had the film or that it was going to be shown, he said.
Mr Gibbons said he recalled the evening was a going away party for someone at their rugby club, which about 20 people attended.
"We were watching a few footy films, having a few beers."
Mr Gibbons said the allegations were motivated by someone trying to make something out of nothing.
"It was something which a person had no control over and no knowledge of.
"For someone to then come back and say it is cause for him to resign... I'm flabbergasted," Mr Gibbons said.
"There's a witch-hunt going on."
Mr Gibbons said the allegations were disgraceful and the "scurrilous accusations" had no basis in fact.
John Doesburg, a former detective in Dunedin, told NZPA he joined Mr Broad in the kitchen when the film was shown and had a beer.
"It (the film) certainly was not part of the plans for the evening.
"It should not be laid at the feet of Howard, it's certainly not in his character."
Mr Doesburg said the allegations were not fair, after more than 25 years and Mr Broad was a "good man".
"You have to question why this has been raised now."
Investigate said the allegations were amongst a number made by some of Mr Broad's former colleagues, which also included allegations that some government MPs helped in a cover-up of police misconduct and corruption.
Police Minister Annette King said yesterday she was satisfied with Mr Broad's explanation and he retained the confidence of the Government.
Mr Broad told NZPA he had briefed Ms King, "fully and frankly", on Saturday when he first learned of the magazine article.
He said Ms King expressed her confidence in him then and again yesterday after the allegations were printed in a Sunday newspaper.
"I also understand I have the confidence of the Prime Minister," he said.
Last night Wishart said Mr Broad had had no option but to admit that the video incident took place as there were a number of people who could testify to the fact that the video was screened.
"What surprised me is that Howard Broad is maintaining that he didn't actually see the video," he told Radio New Zealand.
"Our sources say they were standing right beside him."
Prime Minister Helen Clark told Newstalk ZB that Mr Broad retained her full confidence.
"I think it's a measure of Howard Broad that when this odious little magazine published and he was approached for comment he said `yes this happened in my house'. He did not try to hide that. He said `I didn't approve of it, I didn't like it but it happened. I was 23-years-old at the time, it was 26 years ago'," Miss Clark said.
"I could add my own comment to that and say that, as we well know from Dame Margaret Bazley's report, police culture at that time had a number of odious features to it.
"I personally find it disgraceful that anybody thought it appropriate to show the video but I am not prepared to condemn Mr Broad who was 23, didn't know the video was to be shown and didn't approve of it."
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