Terrorism raids justified – Urewera bus search did not happen
IPCA says while the decision to undertake the raids was justifed and reasonable, some subsequent police actions were not.
The much-publicised alleged stopping and searching of a kohanga reo bus full of children during the 2007 Urewera terrorism raids did not happen, the Independent Police Conduct Authority says.
The IPCA says while the decision to undertake the raids was justifed and reasonable, some subsequent police actions were not.
Its condemnation of the bus claim is a massive blow to the credibility of complainers and anti-police media who wilfully promoted unverified allegations to show police in the worst light.
It was widely claimed that masked and armed police boarded a bus, traumatising young children.
Today, IPCA boss Sir David Carruthers says the authority spoke to three kohanga reo bus drivers and could not substantiate the claims.
According to the IPCA, police did stop and search an unmarked kohanga reo bus but it contained only two adults and their 14-year-old grandchild.
While finding then police commissioner Howard Broad’s decision to undertake Operation Eight raids was justified and reasonable, overall the IPCA concluded police actions in stopping and searching vehicles were not in accordance with the law, unjustified and unreasonable.
As NBR ONLINE commented this morning, the IPCA report does nothing to reveal the whole truth of what a large mob of people was doing with illegally-possessed firearms and petrol bombs at military-style training camps over a lengthy period of time in the Ureweras, and why.
Jock Anderson
Wed, 22 May 2013
Wed, 22 May 2013
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
Terrorism raids justified – Urewera bus search did not happen
29585