NATIONAL COLLECTIVE of
INDEPENDENT WOMEN’S REFUGES INC.

MEDIA RELEASE – 27 0CT0BER 2007

Major Concern Over Raid At Refuge House

Women’s Refuge has sought an assurance from the police that there will not be a repeat of an incident in which one of its safe houses was raided.

Police have told Refuge that they carried out the raid on the property after receiving information from the public about drugs.

The Chief Executive of the National Collective of Independent Women’s Refuges, Heather Henare, says no drugs were found and the exercise has sparked a great deal of concern.

Ms Henare says it was just fortunate there were no women housed at the property at the time of the police raid, as it would have caused them a lot of stress and alarm.

“These are very vulnerable, fragile and traumatised women and this sort of incident would have undoubtedly been quite distressing.”

“I have spoken to both police national headquarters and the district police commander to make my concerns very clear and to tell them that what happened is completely unacceptable.”

Ms Henare says police should be wary and cautious about the possible motives of anyone providing them with information regarding Refuge properties.

“I have told police that there should have been a much better way to go about dealing with this, and we’ll be having further discussions around the issues and the problems this has highlighted”

“I am really aware that they have a job to do, but it has to be done with the utmost care and consideration surrounding our work and clients.”

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