Title: Police happy to provide further reporting around operating of law

The Police Commissioner, Howard Broad, said this afternoon that Police were pleased to participate in an ongoing process to inform the public about how the Amendment of Section 59 of the Crimes Act 2007 is operating.

"Police will assist the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development in accelerating the report back to Parliament of the first two years of the operation of the Act.

"Police's fifth review of the impact on the Crimes (Substituted Section 59) Amendment Act 2007 on Police activity released this afternoon reinforces how the amendment has had minimal impact on Police activity.

Mr Broad said Police were happy to continue with regular reports on the operation of section 59 and to ensure that the reports identified cases in which a parent or caregiver says the force used on a child was reasonable in the circumstances.

Mr Broad said that in addition he and the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Social Development, along with a yet to be determined independent person, would report to the Ministers of Police and Social Development and Employment on a review of Police and CYF practices and procedures relating to the operation of the law.

"This review will include looking at the referral process between the two agencies."

The Commissioner said that he believed Police were doing a good job in enforcing the law as it stood and would continue to be completely open and transparent about how they were operating.

ENDS

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