30 August 2010

Domestic Violence Legislation Empowers Police

Hamilton Police are highlighting the value of recently introduced new domestic violence legislation after their intervention during an incident in the west of the City resulted in the recovery of drugs, a clan lab and an illegally held firearm.

Detective Sergeant Nigel Keall of the West Hamilton CIB said officers were called to a domestic incident at the WINZ office in Dinsdale on Friday morning.

"Though there were insufficient grounds to make an arrest officers were concerned enough to issue the male involved a Police Safety Order or PSO.

"PSOs allow Police to remove the primary aggressor in an incident from a home when there's not enough evidence to make an arrest but where staff have reasons to believe should they not act the situation may escalate and officers will get called back to attend another incident."

Mr Keall said when officers took the woman back to her Waitetuna home an illegally held firearm was recovered but that wasn't the only matter to concern Police staff.

"The Constables noticed light coming from under a door during the middle of the day and smelt a strong chemical smell which warranted a search of the house under the Misuse of Drugs Act.

"A functioning indoor cannabis growing operation was discovered as well as what appeared to be chemicals consistent with the manufacture of methamphetamine or 'P'."

The officers backed off from the volatile chemical haul and called in specialist staff trained in dealing with clandestine drug laboratories.

"An initial check carried out by a Waikato assessor gave us sufficient grounds to call down an Auckland based Clan Lab team who discovered glassware, equipment and chemicals used in the manufacture of 'P'.

"As a result the 37-year-old male from the property was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of a firearm and explosives, cultivating cannabis and possession of equipment used in the manufacture of methamphetamine."

Mr Keall said the case showed the value of the PSOs enabling them to make a timely intervention and ensure the safety of the woman.

"In addition a degree of social harm has been avoided by the closing down of the growing operation. The recovery of the clandestine lab components and the illegal firearm also removed a potential risk to anyone visiting the property."

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