Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: An unacceptable failure of care

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  • BenWilson, in reply to Sacha,

    That's a very good summation by MacLennan.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Sue,

    Amen. Lest we forget the persecution of the alleged Christchurch light bulb looter, whose name I won’t invoke out of respect for his presumed desire for privacy.

    Arthur Alan Thomas, David Bain, Teina Pora
    victims of the police

    Or Nicky Hager, who had his house turned over by a team of cops as a witness.

    So a complaint from Cameron Slater was important enough to justify an over-the-top search and seizure on a prominent investigative journalist –– but Waitemata police didn't think it necessary (initially) to even talk to the alleged offenders and their parents, let alone seek a warrant. Even though that could have protected more children and young women from being sexually assaulted.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Or Nicky Hager, who had his house turned over by a team of cops as a witness.

    So a complaint from Cameron Slater was important enough to justify an over-the-top search and seizure on a prominent investigative journalist

    The kind of "other work" that underresourced police are called away to do?
    Police Association president Greg O'Connor told ONE News the blame is with a lack of police resources not the investigating detectives.

    "You've got a group of detectives overworked and having to prioritise their files every day, being called away to do other work, and the reality of it is not every victim gets the attention that they need."

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Rob Stowell, in reply to Russell Brown,

    let alone seek a warrant.

    Would it have been hard or a shoo-in to get a warrant to seize the phones and computers of the youths accused? Because it seems so obvious, it's hard to comprehend that it wouldn't have happened.

    Whakaraupo • Since Nov 2006 • 2120 posts Report Reply

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Rob Stowell,

    Would it have been hard or a shoo-in to get a warrant to seize the phones and computers of the youths accused? Because it seems so obvious, it’s hard to comprehend that it wouldn’t have happened.

    I have thought this for a long time.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report Reply

  • andin,

    Police Association president Greg O'Connor

    He's getting paid to be an apologist for incompetence or in plainer language,
    an Arsehole.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Lilith __,

    Public shaming and humiliation of victims via social media is part of this awful sequence of events.
    Hoping it's not too OT to point y'all to Monica Lewinsky's Ted talk on how the internet enables instant, global, and unerasable shaming. It's really worth watching.

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to andin,

    apologist for incompetence [… viz. …], an Arsehole

    Just to clarify: these are equated only in the sense that his primary function is to deliver bullshit?

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to linger,

    Yes.
    O'Connor must be like one of the 3500 "managers" the Northland area has gained in the Dec 2014 quarter. "Managers that are looking after the 2000 "sales people", all in full time employment, says Joyce. That or we have a new Mall somewhere I haven't seen. It's Bollocks fer sur'.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    I understand Osborne is an 'Asset Manager' up north, if he sticks with National there won't be much for him to do, judging by their take on 'assets' - it'll be back to weightlifting... and the family beauty business

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Even though that could have protected more children and young women from being sexually assaulted.

    Personally I think this a very real part of the problem.

    It seems that the Police concerned have displayed an attitude that the girls didn't need to be protected from sex.

    That somehow the boys involved aren't committing a real crime.

    What I can't get to grips with is that our government isn't coming down on this like a tonne of bricks?
    Why hasn't the minister been showing up unannounced at the stations involved?
    Why hasn't the minister's office been sitting in on meetings to re-educate the officers who failed so badly?
    Why isn't this important?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    “You’ve got a group of detectives overworked and having to prioritise their files every day, ....”

    On what planet does the alleged gang rape of a child not get priority?

    I get that Greg O'Conner's job is to go to bat for the police but there is a point where you have to look seriously at the people you are standing behind and say "not good enough".

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Asset Manages the National Party .Northland Treasurer apparently, and his beauty place with that beauty face .Saw him with mini me Foster Bell the other day Interestingly he doesn't know our other ex MP well at all, sort of ,a little bit maybe but no don't really know him around the corner from his house and business honestly.
    The one honest thing to come from Key was the threat that if we don't vote National in, we don't get 10 bridges or Simon Bridges even.
    But I digress, back to O'connor the prat. The Master of bullshit....

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    get that Greg O’Conner’s job is to go to bat for the police but there is a point where you have to look seriously at the people you are standing behind and say “not good enough”.

    How about he say "They should be fired!"
    The investigators that had done specific training to handle this type of abuse get fired for total incompetence. They are not fit for purpose. Then reassess and fire Officers A ,B, C, D, E, and F. Then interview Hales and see what he said to his son about this criminal behaviour, then look at why none of these rapes were grouped together immediately.That could be a start. Then, maybe others in the "Force" could learn from this type of policing. To continually protect and even have an employed spokesperson (that our taxes pay for) to make excuses for this incompetence is frankly unacceptable.
    How many other files are stuffed in cupboards technically rendering entire cases erased?
    This failing to "join the dots" comment in the report, they were fucking boulders. I could have done a better job without the Police training.
    So much incompetence, it says to me the attitude was "they brought it upon themselves" which would explain why the perpetrators were never questioned at the Station or charged with 'serving a minor alcohol" or "misuse of drugs act" or rape.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

  • Carol Stewart, in reply to Lilith __,

    Hoping it's not too OT to point y'all to Monica Lewinsky's Ted talk on how the internet enables instant, global, and unerasable shaming. It's really worth watching.

    More on this theme from the Guardian.

    Wellington • Since Jul 2008 • 830 posts Report Reply

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Bart Janssen,

    I get that Greg O'Conner's job is to go to bat for the police but there is a point where you have to look seriously at the people you are standing behind and say "not good enough".

    He is their Union boss, his job is to look after the cops, like it or not.
    We should be passing our displeasure on to the commissioner.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report Reply

  • Bart Janssen, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    He is their Union boss, his job is to look after the cops

    Actually as union boss his job is to look after ALL cops.

    So when a small group F*s up as badly as this group has, his job is to protect the good name of the rest by openly admitting their failings.

    He is not a defense attorney.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 4461 posts Report Reply

  • Neil Graham, in reply to Steve Barnes,

    He is their Union boss, his job is to look after the cops, like it or not.

    I would say you're right there but he hasn't always supported the officer in the spotlight.

    He once went as far as to say, "Instinctively police officers know this is not right."

    Of course that was when a police officer had a legal second job as a sex worker. The New Zealand Prostitutes Collective supported her though.

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 118 posts Report Reply

  • linger, in reply to Neil Graham,

    So … morally he’s not a complete whore?

    (and just to be clear, this speaks well of the latter profession)

    Tokyo • Since Apr 2007 • 1944 posts Report Reply

  • Matthew Poole, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    interview Hales and see what he said to his son about this criminal behaviour

    You're assuming he knew. It's a matter of record that none of the boys or their parents were spoken to by the investigators. It's likely he knew, but far from certain. He definitely knows now, but whether he knew while the investigation was underway is not at all a given.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report Reply

  • Alfie, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    He definitely knows now, but whether he knew while the investigation was underway is not at all a given.

    You'd have to surmise that his mates in the force would be a bit slack if they hadn't had a quiet word with him very early in the investigation.

    Bart: On what planet does the alleged gang rape of a child not get priority?

    Or more accurately, the stupification and rape of 105 children.

    Dunedin • Since May 2014 • 1440 posts Report Reply

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Matthew Poole,

    At the time of the first publicity ,Hale Junior was given much publicity with interviews from the media and comments from him and his Mother stepped in at some stage. Hales junior even said the Police weren't his problem, just the media 'making him the most"hated"Roastbuster in NZ.
    You may think it not at all a given and if that is so, his Father isn't a good cop because either way Hales junior and his face was all over the news and as a Father ,he should have known something was amiss with your own kid being plastered all over the news, and then as a cop in West Auckland he could have said " hey Officer anyone ,"Whats up with my kid in the news? Whats all the interest around the Station this last week?"
    So not a given, dad may have been just an excellent cop who didn't see hear or say anything? Yeah righto..

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report Reply

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