New Zealand Police APEC Operations
Detective Superintendent Peter Marshall, APEC Operation Commander, says that police are in direct contact with wide
ranging groups in relation to protest action during APEC.
"We initiated these meetings so we could gauge how many protestors to expect, where to expect them and to help
facilitate wherever possible," Mr Marshall says.
"It's their right to protest and we are more than happy for them to do it. In fact we are doing everything we can to
help, including sending out a letter to the groups outlining what their legal rights are and helping them find suitable
places to stage their protest.
"Hopefully this way we can avoid arrests."
Mr Marshall says that photographing and videoing protest action is a common practice for police and will be done openly
during APEC.
"The staff involved are dressed in police overalls and clearly visible as police," he says. "It is done for numerous
reasons including assisting in the investigation of any complaints about police actions as well as the identification
and prosecution of offenders."