Guest Post by Ron Penney
“Justice must not only be done it must also be seen to be done”
The
recent controversy about the interactions between the Chief of Police and the
former Premier and present cabinet ministers brings to mind the aphorism quoted
above, which comes from a decision arising from an apprehension of bias in the
judicial setting, but has equally applicability to actions of the police.
Our police forces have immense power and the mere fact that you are under police investigation, even if it doesn’t result in charges, can be a life altering experience, which is why confidence in a police force can be seriously eroded if the general public isn’t confident that that there isn’t political pressure to commence an investigation, end an investigation or interfere during the course of an investigation.
