North Island floods: Heavy-handed policing claims reviewed

Dot Bowlin (left) and Roma Brewer have both complained to their MP about their treatment by the police. Photo / Mark Mitchell

An incident of alleged heavy-handed policing during Waitotara evacuations in the face of rapidly rising flood waters on the weekend is being reviewed by police.

South Taranaki grandmother Dot Bowlin, 67, said she was shoved to the ground and handcuffed by police after she objected to being forcibly removed from her house on Saturday.

Mrs Bowlin told the police officer she wasn't ready to go as the water wasn't yet a threat to her house -- situated on a rise -- and she had to organise her animals.

She said she was pleading her case to stay when a younger policeman allegedly threw her to the ground and put her in handcuffs, aggravating her broken arm.

"It's unbelievable really when I think about it," Mrs Bowlin said.

"It's as though they felt we were going to rob a bank or something. The police were the biggest thing, the worst thing, for us on the night. I got thrown over. They had me face down on the concrete."

Taranaki Area Commander Inspector Keith Borrell said police had received a complaint regarding the arrest and was in the process of reviewing the incident.

The rapidly rising water meant police had to work quickly and most residents were cooperative, he said.

Mrs Bowlin was given "multiple opportunities" to comply with police instructions to evacuate but continued to refuse and became verbally abusive, Mr Borrell said.

She was arrested under the Civil Defence Emergency Management Act.

Shortly after, the matter was "calmly resolved" and Mrs Bowlin was released without charge, Mr Borrell said.

"This was a difficult situation for the attending officers as they had to safely evacuate the entire town and ensure everyone was accounted for," he said.

"At about 1am on the Sunday the Waitotara River breached its banks and flooded the township. Due to the swift action taken by emergency services no lives were lost."

Mrs Bowlin's neighbour Roma Brewer, 69, said he was also elbowed in the side of the head and knocked to the ground by a police officer during the evacuations.

The pair suspected it was the same policeman.

Mud still clogs every pore outside on rural Ihupuku St, but the pair's houses have not been damaged.

Mrs Bowlin's grandson managed to lock the house, which had been left wide open, and when she checked the next day her animals -- sheep, a cat, chooks -- were safe.

"Lucky for those damn cops that they were," she told NZME. News Service.

She and Mr Brewer said the local police were normally good to deal with, but the policeman on Saturday refused to listen.

Mr Brewer was seeking legal advice on the incident.