Police Oath Bill Passes

A bill validating the oaths taken by some police officers has passed into law under Urgency.

A self-described "irritated" Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee said the flawed administration left police officers open to claims of illegal use of powers and therefore Urgency was necessary to pass the Policing (Constable's Oaths Validation) Amendment Bill.

Brownlee said it was the second time police had come to Parliament to validate their actions in this area and it did not reflect well on them.

In 2008 the Police Act was overhauled and between then and October 2009 oaths were not administered properly. A validation act was passed to fix this, but then new mistakes were performed since then.

Police Minister Anne Tolley said the Policing (Constable’s Oaths Validation) Amendment Bill would retrospectively ensure those administering the oaths had the powers to do so. This had not been done under the law for the past four years.

Tolley said 63 officers are affected.

Labour’s Jacinda Ardern questioned whether ministers had been asleep at the wheel.

MPs debated just the second and third readings and each stage passed on a voice vote.

The House then adjourned.

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