The release of the Independent Police Conduct Authority's report into the police handling of the so-called Roast Busters case has provoked strong reactions across New Zealand, Radio New Zealand reports.
The IPCA report slammed the police's handling of the Roastbusters case, saying the victims were let down by a number of police failures.
Auckland lawyer Catriona Maclennan questioned whether the police understood their actions.
“I'm just worried whether the police understand the law.
“They seem to almost think that a complaint and evidence from a victim are required for a prosecution. But that's obviously not the case, or no one would ever be prosecuted for homicide. I think they need to evaluate more carefully where evidence for prosecution could come from.”
Marianne Elliot is the national director of Action Station which set up a petition demanding a review into the decision not to lay charges. She also questioned the decision not to lay charges.
“This argument that has been used, that [the police] didn't have enough evidence... I think the Authority has made a very strong finding that they didn't have enough evidence because they failed to investigate.”
But Rape Prevention Education director, Dr Kim McGregor said she had spoken to top police officers about the issue, like former and current Police Commissioners, Peter Marshall and Mike Bush.
“They know that they have pockets in areas where maybe there's an old-school attitude... Some of the heads within certain districts have misogynistic views towards women.”
