The Commission of Inquiry into historic allegations of police rape will have a wide-ranging brief including the investigation of codes of personal behaviour and sexual conduct, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today.
Commissioners Justice Bruce Robertson and Dame Margaret Bazley have been appointed to head the inquiry and Ms Clark hasnow announced its terms of reference.
She said the commission would inquire into police conduct, standards and procedures when receiving and investigating allegations of sexual assault and abuse made against the police.
"They will also investigate police standards and codes relating to police personal behaviour, including sexual conduct," Ms Clark's statement said.
Ms Clark ordered the inquiry after Rotorua woman Louise Nicholas alleged she was pack-raped in the 1980s by police officers Clint Rickards, Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton.
Mr Rickards, now an assistant commissioner in charge of Auckland police, has been stood down. The other two are no longer in the force.
All three men have strongly denied the allegations.
Ms Clark said today the commission would not determine the guilt or innocence of police officers involved in alleged sexual assault or other alleged criminal offences.
It would not review Police Complaints Authority's investigations because of secrecy provisions in the authority's governing statute, but it would be able to review the investigations carried out by police which formed the basis for the authority's reports.
Ms Clark said a number of women had made complaints about sexual assaults by police officers or their associates, and the manner in which the police handled those complaints.
"It is important that these complaints are thoroughly investigated," she said.
"The police hold a critical role in society in upholding law and order and it is vital that there is strong public confidence in and respect for the police."
She said the public had to be assured the police would thoroughly investigate any allegations of criminal behaviour by their own personnel.
"If the allegations that have been made indicate that there are systemic problems, they will be identified and dealt with," she said.
The commission will announce as soon as possible the dates and venues for hearings and outline how members of the public can make submissions.
It will report to the Governor-General by November 1 this year.
