Gallagher Martin: Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
Gallagher Martin: Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill — Second Reading 
[Volume:625;Page:20295] 
MARTIN GALLAGHER (Labour—Hamilton West) 
: 
 As chair of the Law and Order Committee that considered the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill first of all I acknowledge the good work of the committee particularly the work of our deputy chair Marc Alexander and I certainly acknowledge the contribution of the previous speaker in terms of progressing this bill. 
It is very important that we remind ourselves what the bill does—and it is quite an important bill. In my view the key word in the bill title is “independent”. The authority should not just be independent but should be seen by all the parties to be truly independent. The bill amends the Police Complaints Authority Act by changing the name of the Police Complaints Authority to the Independent Police Complaints Authority and increases the authority’s membership from one person to three people one of whom will be a chairperson who will be a current or former judge. 
As with the existing Police Complaints Authority the members will be appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the House of Representatives. The proposed name change and the increase in the authority’s membership which are provisions in the bill were in the view of the committee needed to enhance the authority’s independence. 
I would like to take the opportunity to briefly quote some of the other major provisions from the commentary. It states: “The bill also: establishes the Authority as a separate legal entity which recognises its change of status from a single-person office to a three-person body; makes it clear that the Authority may defer taking action on a complaint if a criminal investigation disciplinary investigation or both is being conducted by the police in relation to a matter; allows the Authority when deciding whether to hold a hearing to have regard to whether proceedings or a coroner’s inquest is pending or in reasonable contemplation; confers on the Authority appropriate powers under the Commissions of Inquiries Act 1908 for the purposes of holding a hearing; sets out a procedure that enables the Authority to disclose information that has come to its knowledge through the exercise of its functions about a defendant who has been charged with or has been convicted of an offence punishable by imprisonment; provides for a number of matters relating to the appointment of members and the administration of the Authority that are consistent with the Government’s Crown entity reforms.” 
Obviously if members read the report of the Law and Order Committee—as members will have done—they will see that we go into more detail on a number of those very important issues. 
I want to stress—and the Minister in his speech stressed to the Parliament early on—that it is very important that we remember notwithstanding some of the current issues facing the New Zealand Police that we still have the best police force in the world in my view. I know there are some issues and problems but they are minor and minuscule compared with a number of police forces around the world. The whole point of an Independent Police Complaints Authority process is to have a fair process of hearings and investigation and also to honour and enhance the vast majority of people who work in the police and who are very very fine and dedicated men and women. 
Having an Independent Police Complaints Authority that will be perceived as a truly independent authority ultimately enhances the credibility of that authority and the integrity of its findings when it reaches those findings. 
In conclusion I stress that having an effective process whereby complaints against wrongful police behaviour can be heard and acted upon is an important assurance that such behaviour will be properly responded to and public confidence in the police maintained which is critical. Along with the Minister I personally acknowledge the excellent work done by the current authority over the years. The structure of and resources given to the new Independent Police Complaints Authority will ensure an even better performance in the future. I thank the Law and Order Committee for its work and I urge passage of this bill through the House.