News (Media Awareness Project) - New Zealand: $480,000 Compo to Police Addicts |
| Title: | New Zealand: $480,000 Compo to Police Addicts |
| Published On: | 2003-06-01 |
| Source: | New Zealand Herald (New Zealand) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-20 05:39:31 |
$480,000 COMPO TO POLICE ADDICTS
Five former undercover police officers have been paid about $480,000 to
settle their long-running claim against the police department for stress and
drug addiction.
Individual payments in the settlement, negotiated by the Police Association,
vary.
A further 19 former undercover police officers have cases outstanding.
All the officers claimed they suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and
became addicted to cannabis and other drugs as a result of working
undercover.
They claimed it also affected their career prospects.
Their dispute began in the early 1990s but is yet to be aired in open court.
The Police Association and the Crown Law Office have each spent nearly
$800,000 in legal fees on the cases.
The association had pushed for the officers to settle, saying each case
would require a five-week trial.
But group spokesman Frank Miessen said the five officers who accepted
settlements had sold themselves short.
Mr Miessen said the remaining officers were determined to have their cases
heard in court.
Four of the officers with cases pending began proceedings on Tuesday to have
their Police Association-appointed lawyers removed.
Lawyer and former association secretary Dr Rob Moodie, who became a
facilitator for the group late last year, said the settlement for five
officers should be seen as a catalyst to get the outstanding cases dealt
with.
Dr Moodie wants the officers to receive a war pension, which police officers
were entitled to until a legislative change in the early 1990s. He also
wants the undercover programme reviewed.
"This is a case that's gone completely off the rails," he said.
"Every New Zealander has an obligation to them. The Government needs to look
at their cases, realise many of them will never work again and help get the
stress out of their lives.
"Over the years, the Crown has become a litigation bully."
Association president Greg O'Connor said the settlement "was about allowing
people to move on and get closure on a difficult and demanding period of
their lives".
Five former undercover police officers have been paid about $480,000 to
settle their long-running claim against the police department for stress and
drug addiction.
Individual payments in the settlement, negotiated by the Police Association,
vary.
A further 19 former undercover police officers have cases outstanding.
All the officers claimed they suffered post-traumatic stress disorder and
became addicted to cannabis and other drugs as a result of working
undercover.
They claimed it also affected their career prospects.
Their dispute began in the early 1990s but is yet to be aired in open court.
The Police Association and the Crown Law Office have each spent nearly
$800,000 in legal fees on the cases.
The association had pushed for the officers to settle, saying each case
would require a five-week trial.
But group spokesman Frank Miessen said the five officers who accepted
settlements had sold themselves short.
Mr Miessen said the remaining officers were determined to have their cases
heard in court.
Four of the officers with cases pending began proceedings on Tuesday to have
their Police Association-appointed lawyers removed.
Lawyer and former association secretary Dr Rob Moodie, who became a
facilitator for the group late last year, said the settlement for five
officers should be seen as a catalyst to get the outstanding cases dealt
with.
Dr Moodie wants the officers to receive a war pension, which police officers
were entitled to until a legislative change in the early 1990s. He also
wants the undercover programme reviewed.
"This is a case that's gone completely off the rails," he said.
"Every New Zealander has an obligation to them. The Government needs to look
at their cases, realise many of them will never work again and help get the
stress out of their lives.
"Over the years, the Crown has become a litigation bully."
Association president Greg O'Connor said the settlement "was about allowing
people to move on and get closure on a difficult and demanding period of
their lives".
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