Police files lose secrecy to commission of inquiry

Thousands of secret police files will be thrown open after a select committee ruled that a commission of inquiry investigating past rape allegations against police can inspect them.

Parliament's law and order select committee has recommended that temporary provisions in the Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill be granted allowing the commission to inspect the files.

The change would throw open thousands of files containing the evidence of witnesses previously assured that their statements would be kept secret.

Parliament is expected to debate the second reading of the bill tomorrow.

The inquiry was set up to investigate allegations by Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas that she was pack-raped by Clint Rickards, now Auckland police commander, and Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton, who are no longer in the force.

The men vigorously deny the allegations and say sex with Ms Nicholas was consensual.

- NZPA