Ryall Tony: Appointments — Police Complaints Authority—Ian Albert Borrin 
Ryall Tony: Appointments — Police Complaints Authority—Ian Albert Borrin 
[Volume:616;Page:11892] 
Hon TONY RYALL (National—Bay of Plenty) 
: 
 The National Party in Opposition will support the reappointment of Judge Ian Borrin as the Police Complaints Authority for a period of 2 years. We believe that it is one of the more difficult jobs in the public service. 
It is a responsibility that has outcomes people often feel dissatisfied about. Much of that dissatisfaction arises from the investigative capacity the authority currently has which relies on sworn police officers to collect the facts and other associated material from which the authority can then make his decisions. As a result the Government has introduced with the support of the National Party in Opposition the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill. 
The Prime Minister indicated last month that that legislation would be put on hold pending the outcome of the commission of inquiry into police practices in respect of complaints relating to certain offences involving the police. That is an appropriate step. The National Party wants to signal to the Government that we think it will be very important to move swiftly upon the conclusion of that commission of inquiry to incorporate any appropriate amendments in the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill. What has happened with those complaints and with other allegations that have been made about the police is that the spotlight has been turned on the Police Complaints Authority system as indeed comments in the last 48 hours have also done so. We think it will be vitally important that the authority is in a position to have its legislation amended and to have its independent and separate investigative capacity implemented and up and running as soon as possible. 
In the last financial year the authority received 2369 complaints that were accepted for full investigation. A further 500 were not accepted. As at balance date over 1600 cases were still described as current. It is appropriate to express at this time that the National Party in Opposition is concerned about how long it is taking for the authority to deal with a number of those cases before it. In fact as recently as today one of my colleagues has drawn to my attention the case of Mr Powell from Canterbury for example whose complaint was laid with the authority in mid-2001 and here we are 3 months into 2004 and there is still no resolution of the matter. One of the key points we would raise with the Government is that it is vital the Police Complaints Authority is resourced to be able to deal swiftly with complaints. 
As I said at the beginning of my contribution this is one of the most difficult jobs in the public service people are often dissatisfied with its outcomes and whatever Parliament can do to try to minimise that dissatisfaction we should do. One of the steps the Government should take is to ensure that the authority as it is currently structured is sufficiently resourced so that it can reduce what appears to me to be quite a considerable backlog and delay in its cases. I do not know whether Judge Borrin has sought additional resources from the Government to clear what appears to me to be a considerable backlog but I think that officials should be discussing with him what can be done to resolve that problem. 
When Parliament moves to establish the Independent Police Complaints Authority it will be vital that not only does it have an independent investigative capacity but that it responds in a timely way. The public will have increased and enhanced confidence in an Independent Police Complaints Authority if timeliness goes hand in hand with professionalism and independence. 
 In summary the National Party in Opposition supports the reappointment of Judge Borrin. We note his considerable service as the Deputy Police Complaints Authority under Judge Jaine previously. I think Judge Borrin is a well-respected member of the New Zealand judiciary. I know he is held in regard by members of Parliament and by many of those outside the House. It is vital that this place supports his work by ensuring it is properly resourced so that he can provide timely decisions and it is vital that the Government moves to pass the Independent Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill as swiftly as possible after the current commission of inquiry in order to restore and enhance confidence not only in the complaints procedure but also in the New Zealand Police in general.