UNDERCOVER DRUG POLICE SEND COMPLAINT TO UN

Two former police officers have complained to the United Nations about
their time in the New Zealand undercover drugs programme.

At the same time the Police Association is circulating a document seeking a
conclusion to the decade-long dispute between the police and its former
undercover officers.

The UN complaint from Martin Doyle and John Currey claims that 21 former
undercover agents are being constructively denied judicial hearings in
regard to allegations against the police commissioner.

"The allegations before court relate to illegal drug use and supply,
institutionalised perjury, unfair dismissal and denial of health, welfare
and employment opportunities for former drug agents," it said.

The approach to the UN was a last resort, as all avenues to get the case to
court had been exhausted.

Mr Doyle said the complaint to the UN had been made after his case had sat
in the High Court for seven years without a date for a hearing being set.

Police Association president Greg O'Connor dismissed the suggestion his
organisation was not committed to the former agents' case. The association
had settled on behalf of five undercover officers and was still working on
an outcome for the others.

"The reality of it is that there are considerable legal problems."