Civilian driver wants to keep name quiet

The civilian charged after a motorcade he took part in was investigated for carrying the Prime Minister between Waimate and Christchurch at excessive speeds is fighting to keep his name secret.

The man was granted interim name suppression at the Timaru District Court yesterday along with a police officer.

Judge David Holderness suppressed the civilian's work and address details. He declined permanent name suppression but agreed to grant it in the interim, giving the man 48 hours to appeal.

The judge also gave the police officer 48 hours to appeal against his ruling against name suppression, although he granted suppression of the man's rank and location.

The police officer has been charged with six counts of being a party to dangerous driving and six counts of dangerous driving, while the civilian will face two dangerous driving charges, one of following too close and another of careless driving.

It was supposed to be the first court appearance for all six men charged with various driving offences after 17 people lodged official complaints at the speed the motorcade was travelling on July 17. But none appeared in person.

The civilian and one officer were represented by counsel and four police officers were granted a registrar's remand until next year.

The other four men are all police officers.

Constable Simon Vincent, 31, of Ashburton and Senior Constable Alister Doonan, 49, of Timaru, both face a single charge of dangerous driving.

Constable Ian Howard, 36, of Timaru, has been charged with following too close and two counts of dangerous driving.

Waimate Senior Constable Clinton Vallender, 42, faces one count of being a party to dangerous driving and one of dangerous driving.

The charges were laid yesterday in the Timaru District Court and will replace several original charges.

The motorcade was taking Helen Clark to Christchurch to catch a plane to Wellington for a Bledisloe Cup rugby game.

The 205.6km trip took 96 minutes, meaning the motorcade was travelling at an average of 128km/h.

After the six men were charged, police crime reduction and public safety Assistant Commissioner Peter Marshall said the officers were responsible for the speed decisions they made and "fully accountable to the law".

The police pursuits and urgent duty driving policy says drivers can speed when responding to a critical incident, apprehending a driver for a traffic or criminal offence or when engaged in pursuits.