AUTHORITY UNABLE TO DECIDE IF POLICE ACTED IMPROPERLY

The Police Complaints Authority has not been able to decide whether two
police officers acted improperly or simply made a mistake in changing
identification details which resulted in a man being charged with a drug
offence.

"It is to be recognised that there may have been gravely improper conduct
but equally there may have been no more than a mismanaged correction of a
clerical error," the authority, Judge Ian Borrin, said in his report
released yesterday.

The case, now 10 years old, exposed problems with the police undercover
programme, with allegations agents had to gather evidence while under the
influence of drugs.

"The matter remains in the realm of allegation and denial and, at most, of
unresolved suspicion."

Judge Borrin said the lesson for police was the need for "manifest
integrity, for meticulous attention to detail, and for meticulous attention
to correct procedures".

His report comes a decade after Dannevirke freezing worker Craig Withey was
charged with manufacturing cannabis oil.

The charge against him was withdrawn and Mr Withey sued for damages
alleging malicious prosecution when it was discovered police changed
details of a tattoo in a way which matched Mr Withey's tattoo.

The police involved - an undercover officer who was known as Malcolm
McKenzie, and his operator Detective Keith Price - said the change was made
on the same date when it was realised a mistake had been made in Mr
McKenzie's original statement about the tattoo.

Mr Withey alleged it was made some time later, after police had observed
his tattoo.