Collins should explain police actions, says Goff

Police Minister Judith Collins must explain why the Police made submissions on behalf of a man facing sentence on serious criminal charges, says Labour Leader Phil Goff.

“New Zealanders will have real concern around why the Police should have made submissions to a judge about a man related to Chris Kidman who was in possession of photographs taken on a police camera,” Phil Goff said.

“According to Mr Kidman, his uncle was facing serious firearms and drugs charges and the Police agreed to make submissions to the judge who was sentencing him in return for Mr Kidman returning the camera.

“Mr Kidman’s views should not be automatically accepted to be the truth, but the Police have acknowledged that they did make submissions to the judge.

“It has to be questioned whether making such submissions was appropriate as this could be seen as a form of giving in to blackmail,” Phil Goff said.

“Ms Collins needs to explain what was said in the submission and why the Police agreed to make it.

“The presumption is that this was the price for getting the camera back. On the surface at least, this is not a good look,” Phil Goff said.

“A submission in mitigation of a defendant for a reason that had nothing to do with his crime would be unacceptable.

“Ms Collins needs to give a clear explanation for the action by the Police, and, in the event that it was inappropriate, to tell the public what action she intends to take,” Phil Goff said.