by Keith Locke
The Greens didn’t go along with the parliamentary vote for three new part-time members of the Independent Police Conduct Authority. This was because one nominee was Richard Woods, the head of the SIS from 1999 to 2006, the man who presided over the Ahmed Zaoui fiasco.
The Refugee Status Appeals Authority had confirmed that Mr Zaoui was a genuine refugee in danger of persecution by the Algerian regime, yet the SIS under Mr Woods wouldn’t accept the verdict.
A member of the IPCA needs to be rigorous, and during his tenure at the SIS Mr Woods signed off on some pretty shonky evidence against Mr Zaoui.
The most notorious was a home made tourist video made by Mr Zaoui, that any 12-year-old could see wasn’t the terrorist casing video claimed by the SIS.
Journalist “Bomber” Bradbury did a wonderful spoof on Woods’ take on the video.
The IPCA also needs people who are prepared to put their necks out and go against the grain.
Yet, in Zaoui’s case, Mr Woods was just the opposite, expressing concern that “like-minded” Western governments would react badly if Mr Zaoui was allowed to stay.
Mind you, now Richard Woods is on the ICPA, I hope he proves me wrong and really sticks up for anyone suffering wrongdoing from the Police.
Published in Featured | Justice & Democracy by Keith Locke on Fri, August 6th, 2010
Tags: Ahmed Zaoui, ICPA, Richard woods
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on the trolls and those who are unable to keep on topic
Your concern is well justified. Personal and professional integrity, independence and adherence to ethical standards regardless of political pressure should be the character traits of individuals appointed to the ICPA. Mr. Woods exhibited none of these traits during the Zaoui case and in fact behaved in just the opposite fashion, “spinning” and fabricating “evidence” to suit the wishes of the government of the time (which was to appear tough on terrorism in the midst of the post 9/11 hysteria). This smacks of back-scratching and sinecure-mongering, IMO.
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Keith:
Your concern is well justified.
……
where were you when the spy base discussion cropped up?
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The last Symposium of Policing in NZ unanimously stated that we needed to recruit a ‘higher standard’ of trainee for our Constabulory.
This week the chin music from the Minister for Police was that we had the finest Force ‘in the world’
I have yet to tour the entire world – but of the dozen or so Forces I have seen, we rate below Indonesia (who kidnap people to see what their families will pay) – right on the last rung – beneath us, perhaps the Tonton Macoute.
I am assured it’s different in the main cities in NZ, but in the Provinces – anything goes. Any complaint will simply turn that person into a permanent target.
We practice an insidious, careless, pontificating Capital Punishment, oft-times based on no more than rumour.
Why? I ask the people who might know.
Because they can.
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I used to have a lot of respect for our police and the
ones around when we were kids earned it. Many are still doing their job with dignity and concern.
However the response to teenagers these days is bloody minded and excessive and exaggeration and assumption to get a conviction are used too often.
The news that all the young gung ho constables would like to be armed is concerning as is the police managements recent instructions that unlike ordinary citizens the reasonable force requirement when defending yourself does not apply to police.
Armed police should be a matter of democratic discussion and mature c consideration. Not a knee jerk reaction to a blip in assaults on police.
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Chasing people to death on our roads?
Stop that bull and I’ll be quiet (for a while)
Saw a guy Tazered last year
He had a pacemaker
Never saw it in the papers huh?
When they’z a travelling ‘natural cause’,
then you should worry
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You need Tiger Woods to get to the ..er..um bottom of it!
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