Government won't pay rape inquiry legal bills

8.00am

The Government will not pay the legal bills of those involved in police rape allegation inquiries.

But the Dominion Post said today it understood the government may appoint lawyers to help people giving evidence at a commission of inquiry into the allegations. The commission will look at police handling of rape complaints against serving officers.

Calls have been made for the Government to help meet the legal costs of women who have come forward to the inquiry. Others likely to be involved are also seeking help.

But Attorney-General Margaret Wilson said yesterday the Government could only help in the inquiry, which was separate from police investigations into the allegations.

"The commission of inquiry is not a court of law, it's not an adversarial process to try and attribute guilt or innocence."

Legal costs already incurred by complainants and others involved had not been considered as they were separate from the inquiry.

Two lawyers had been appointed to help the inquiry and they would also be available for people involved, she said.

Another possible option would be to appoint another lawyer, independent of the commission, to help those involved. The issue will go to Monday's Cabinet meeting.

Ms Wilson did not think it was necessary for taxpayers to pay for people to have lawyers sitting through the inquiry.

The commission was set up after Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas alleged she was pack-raped in the 1980s by three police officers. Other rape allegations have since emerged.

The hearings start next month.

- NZPA