The police have confirmed that defamation proceedings against the top of the South Island's most senior police staff member have been withdrawn.
Defamation claims against Karyn Malthus (pictured) have been withdrawn. Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker-Wilson
It was reported recently that three West Coast police employees had filed defamation proceedings against Police and the Tasman District Commander, Superintendent Karyn Malthus, who strongly denied the claims of defamation.
Inspector John Canning, Senior Sergeant Allyson Ealam, and Senior Sergeant Phillip Barker claimed they were the victims of a "witch hunt" by Ms Malthus, and launched a $1.5 million defamation case against their boss.
A police spokesperson at national headquarters said last night that police wrote to the lawyer for the employees, outlining the view that the claim was misconceived and should not proceed.
The three had been on paid leave since the end of May, after a dispute with police over proposed staffing changes in the region. They were believed to be now back at work.
They claimed earlier that Ms Malthus made a series of comments to local media, published in the Hokitika Guardian and the Greymouth Star on 2 June , that portrayed them as incompetent and having failed in their duties.
Solicitors alerted her on 5 June 5 and 15 June that the printed comments were considered defamatory, but police responded that they denied the comments were slanderous.
"The defamation proceeding has now been withdrawn. This brings the matter to an end," the spokesperson said.
