By ALISON BROWN in Rotorua
Police have apologised to Rotorua bar owner Reg Hennessy over the botched handling of a 111 call.
Mr Hennessy, owner of Hennessy's Irish Bar in Tutanekai St, revealed last week he had not heard from police six days after ringing 111 to help
with an abusive and drunken gatecrasher.
Police now admit their error in not telling Mr Hennessy police were not immediately available to help him.
The incident, which was highlighted by National Party leader Don Brash during his visit to Rotorua last week, is one in a highly publicised series involving staff at the Northern Police Communications Centre, based in Auckland.
Mr Hennessy rang 111 at about 11pm on February 5 when a drunken man became abusive and threatening after he was refused entry to the bar.
While he managed to get the unruly man out, he said last week he was concerned that he had heard nothing from police to check the situation had been dealt with.
Northern police communications centre acting manager Inspector Kerry Watson said the calltaker had misled Mr Hennessy by telling him police would be sent to the bar.
During the call, Mr Hennessy confirmed the man had been successfully removed from the premises, Mr Watson said.
Police in Rotorua were already attending "high priority" incidents at the time of the call but patrols would have been redirected if a "specific and compelling threat to public safety had been identified".
"Although the information that Mr Hennessy provided to police did not justify an urgent response, the police do accept that the calltaker did tell him that a police patrol would be sent to the scene," he said.
"The police regret that the calltaker did not call Mr Hennessy back to advise him that the police would not be able to attend immediately. That action should have been taken once it was discovered that there was not a patrol available to provide an immediate response."
Mr Hennessy could not be reached for comment yesterday.
