16 October 2012

Police trust survey lacks credibility

The Police Association will not be commenting on the Horizon Research poll on trust in police, due to its apparent links to a campaign being run by a Wellington PR consultant, Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today.

A Wellington PR consultant has been involved in a campaign alleging police misconduct in relation to an incident which occurred some years ago in Homebush Road. An lengthy story detailing the allegations, in which the PR consultant featured extensively, appeared in the Dominion Post on Saturday morning. At midday on Saturday, Horizon Research opened its poll on trust in police.

Horizon Research is owned by an individual who also works as a senior consultant for the Wellington consultant’s PR company. During the period the poll was open, the Homebush campaigners used Facebook and Twitter to encourage their supporters and followers to sign up to participate in the poll, with the added inducement of going in the draw for an iPad and $1000 cash.

“Commenting on the results of this ‘poll’ would just give it credibility it does not deserve,” Mr O’Connor said.

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