KEY POINTS:
Police could have their power of arrest turned against them, with plans for the new Independent Police Conduct Authority to use it on rogue officers.
The authority would be able to arrest and charge, under Government plans to "enhance its independence".
Currently, the authority can only recommend the
police lay charges - and rely on them to make arrests.
Under the proposed changes, the authority will be given the "necessary powers" to carry out its role.
This would mean a police officer as high-ranking as the Commissioner could be investigated, arrested and charged without any input from the force at all. It could extend to serious charges such as murder.
The authority already has its own investigators to conduct inquiries.
Cabinet has approved changes that will let the authority lay criminal charges if it decides it has enough evidence.
It will also decide if charges should be laid when the authority is directing and controlling a police investigation - effectively meaning it could order police against one of their own.
Prosecutions would then be taken through the courts by Crown lawyers.
The necessary powers - understood to include arrest - would allow the authority to detain an officer they intended to lay charges against.
This would allow them to prevent the offending officer from associating with witnesses or accomplices, or to "enforce compliance" if the officer misbehaved.
The power is usually only available to the police, agencies like the Ministry of Fisheries and Customs in certain instances and to the public in the prescribed circumstances of a "citizen's arrest".
Cabinet approved the measures in December but the bill is yet to be introduced to Parliament.
It is now unlikely to get before the house before the election,
Associate Justice Minister Rick Barker would not comment on whose idea the changes were and why the authority required changes enhancing powers just months after its inception.
A spokeswoman for Mr Barker said there was no hold-up, and "the normal consultation process was being followed".
The authority, headed by Justice Lowell Goddard, replaced the much-criticised Police Complaints Authority in November.
It would not comment, but its statement of intent for the year ahead says "it is critical [the authority's] work is, and is seen to be, independent of the functions and influence of the police".
The authority has already undertaken an extensive inquiry into the shooting of Steven Wallace in 2000, which suggests Justice Goddard is determined that it will make its mark as an independent civilian oversight of the police.
A police spokesman said it was supportive of the authority being "an independent body totally separate of police in every way".
Police Association president Greg O'Connor declined to comment.
Opposition police spokesman Chester Borrows said National believed it was "a natural progression" that the authority be allowed to lay charges relating to its own investigations. He said whether this was done by summons or arrest should be decided by the authority on a case-by-case basis.
