Motorcade officers get clean slate

Ian Howard (left) and Simon Vincent.

Two police officers who drove in the Prime Minister's infamous speeding motorcade had an emotional end to a "very public two-year ordeal" when their driving convictions were quashed yesterday.

Helen Clark said she was delighted to hear that the dangerous driving convictions of Timaru constable Ian Howard and Ashburton constable Simon Raymond Vincent had been quashed in the High Court at Timaru.

Mr Howard, now a sergeant, also had his conviction for following too closely quashed, as were the $650 fines and orders made against the pair.

"I was ecstatic," Mr Howard said of hearing Justice John Priestley's decision yesterday.

"I'm very happy. Very relieved. I'm more positive now that finally justice did prevail. I was hopeful, but I wouldn't say confident [of the result]."

Mr Howard was driving the rear car and Mr Vincent the lead car in the high-speed dash from Waimate, South Canterbury, to Christchurch in July 2004. The motorcade was trying to get Prime Minister Helen Clark to Christchurch in time for a flight to Wellington to watch a rugby test.

Yesterday Justice Priestley ruled that the consequences of the convictions outweighed the offences of both men. The conviction received by the civilian driver of the car carrying the Prime Minister for dangerous driving was quashed last December.

"I wish you the best of luck with your future careers in the force," the judge told the pair.

Their lawyer, James Rapley, said: "It's now going to allow them to have some closure - to move on. It's been a two-year ordeal for them, really, and for their families. In a nutshell, these were two good men following orders, doing their very best without any guidelines or assistance, for the Prime Minister of the country."

Mr Rapley said the judge had appreciated how much the convictions had affected their everyday work.

"People they were dealing with on a daily basis [were] using it to taunt them or tease them that they had a conviction and that they were the motorcade cop, and making their job that much more difficult."

Mr Howard said: "A couple of times [the convictions] got brought up by the public. It was pretty distressing, and not the kind of thing you want."

Police Association president Greg O'Connor said it was an emotional moment when the men heard their names had been cleared.

"I don't think they quite realised how much they had been carrying around for a couple of years. Now ... it's over for them. And the good thing about it is their faith has been restored. These are people that New Zealanders want policing their streets, believe me. It has certainly restored my faith."

Canterbury police district commander Superintendent Sandra Manderson said: "Justice has taken its course and I'm pleased at the decision of the court."