NZ: Man still awaiting explanation for 2002 visit by police 

NZ: Man still awaiting explanation for 2002 visit by police

From http://www.odt.co.nz/cgi-bin/getitem?date=22Mar2004&object=HJD38C3660LS&type=html

Man still awaiting explanation for 2002 visit by police

By Lea Stewart

Almost two years after police "barged" into a Dunedin man's home following a threat to blow up the Family Court, he is still seeking answers from authorities.

Gordon Holmes (50) said he still had not received an adequate explanation of why police knocked on his door on August 12, 2002, and "barged" into his home waving a search warrant.

It took the Police Complaints Authority almost 18 months to reply to his complaint about the incident, and recently he received a letter stating he needed to call at the Dunedin Police Station to pick up items seized from his home during the search.

The search of Mr Holmes' house in 2002 came the same day as police received an anonymous letter saying a bomb was due to explode at the courthouse at 9.47am.

Mr Holmes was dealing with the Family Court at the time and had written about six letters to the court expressing his disappointment at the way his case was being handled.

However, he never made any threats in the letters, he said.

That claim is backed up in a letter from the Family Court: "I . . . confirm that there was no letters from yourself to the Court containing threats to people or property."

Mr Holmes, an Englishman with New Zealand residency, lodged a complaint with the Police Complaints Authority six days after the incident.

In it, he claimed he was "pushed" back into the house by one of six police officers after answering the door and was only informed after 15 to 20 minutes that the visit from the police was in relation to the bomb threat.

He was made to address 10 envelopes to police in Dunedin and claimed the police treatment was intimidating and aggressive.

He said he was not allowed to use the toilet and claimed the officers made comments about his weight, condition of his house and reading ability.

"It was just a vicious, vindictive approach.

"I have never been in any trouble with the police or courts and have no police record - not even a parking or speeding ticket," Mr Holmes said in his complaint.


Monday, 22-March 2004

END