Simon Power National Party Law & Order Spokesman

6 December 2005

Benson-Pope should apologise to police

National's Law & Order spokesman, Simon Power, says David Benson-Pope should immediately apologise to all police for saying their Southern Commander used 'bozo-ish' language in saying there was a prima facie case against him.

"The Social Development & Employment Minister has insulted one of New Zealand's most senior police officers who was doing nothing more than his job in reporting on an investigation concerning the Minister.

"We were told in the House today that the Minister had apologised to the Southern Commander, but he should apologise to all police for his cavalier treatment of the Commander, and the way his office denied leaking the report, with the inference that it had been leaked by the police.

"This follows his lawyer's implication that a police officer had leaked information about the case in November - another example of Mr Benson-Pope making wild claims about police behaviour. Police denied any leak.

"Mr Benson-Pope's attitude is worse because he is a Cabinet Minister who should be supporting the police, not criticising them just because they issue a report that makes him look bad," Mr Power says.

ENDS

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