KEY POINTS:
Police admit they do not know why an inquiry into one of the country's highest ranked officers has been going on for nearly four years, yet has still not revealed whether a criminal offence took place.
Deputy Police Commissioner Rob Pope - one of two officers who are ranked second only to Police Commissioner Howard Broad - is the subject of accusations that he swore a misleading affidavit when he was the head of the murder inquiry into the Marlborough Sounds deaths of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope a decade ago.
Act MP Rodney Hide has labelled the internal inquiry a "cover up", saying he is astonished at the time it has taken police to investigate. "I'm amazed that it's been swept under the carpet and then basically put in the too-hard basket. It leaves a heavy suspicion hanging over the Deputy Commissioner's head and taints the police because they're slow at investigating their own," he said last night.
Chris Watson, the father of Scott Watson who was convicted of the murders, complained to police over the handling of the case, sparking two inquiries.
Police spokesman Jon Neilson told the Herald last night that two investigations were under way.
One was an internal inquiry and the other was by the overarching Independent Police Complaints Authority.
The internal inquiry included an allegation that Mr Pope provided misleading information to obtain a series of interception warrants in 1998 to bug Scott Watson's yacht, home and telephones, the Herald on Sunday reported.
Mr Neilson emphasised the investigation was not a criminal one, stating it had not yet reached a point where that had been decided.
When asked what the investigation was, he said: "It is an inquiry into the allegations into the complaint."
Mr Neilson told the Herald it was not known why it had taken so long. "We wouldn't know that until later in the week, probably."
Mr Neilson said police were only stood down while under investigation for criminal matters. Police would need the results of the internal inquiry before they knew if Mr Pope would be stood down. Mr Broad would not comment on the issue last night.
Police Minister Annette King has also declined to comment and would not say whether she knew about the inquiry at the time Mr Pope was appointed in 2006.
Asked whether Ms King was happy with the length of time the investigation had taken, her spokesman said: "She's been advised that proper processes are being followed and she'll await the outcome of them."
He said Ms King did not appoint the deputy commissioners - they were selected by the Cabinet - and diverted further questions to the State Services Commissioner Dr Mark Prebble.
Dr Prebble was standing by Mr Pope last night in a statement through a spokesman: "Rob Pope's appointment was part of the same independent and thorough process for other senior state sector leaders run by the State Services Commission and the State Services Commissioner has seen nothing since Mr Pope has been in the role that would suggest that it was anything other than a good appointment."
Act MP Rodney Mr Hide raised questions in parliament last week after being contacted by Chris Watson, who feels he has not been given answers from Ms King and Prime Minister Helen Clark after asking them under the Official Information Act if they knew of the allegations against Mr Pope when he was appointed.
