Independent Police Conduct Authority Report

Waikato District Health Board acknowledges the release today of the Independent Police Conduct Authority report into the police response to events preceding the murder of Diane White. We acknowledge the impact the report will have on Diane White's family and we offer our sincere condolences to them.

There are clearly things that Henry Rongomau Bennett Staff could have done differently in retrospect knowing now what we know about the defendant’s state of mind. We have spoken to the staff involved about some of those things but no one acted negligently or unprofessionally and no one person could reasonably be held responsible.

We would like to clarify a couple of points in the report:
• The community support worker (as opposed to social worker as described by the police) was not employed by Waikato DHB but by a non Government organisation (NGO).
• Staff made a reasonable judgement to allow Ms Morris to have a cigarette in the courtyard to cool down. While in the courtyard, she scaled the fence and staff were unable to stop her. They then contacted the police as described in the authority's report.

Read full details.

www.waikatodhb.health.nz

About Waikato District Health Board and Health Waikato:

Waikato DHB is responsible for planning, funding and providing quality health and disability support services for the 373,220 people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual turnover of $1.2 billion and employs more than 6450 people.

Health Waikato is the DHB’s main provider of hospital and health services. It has six groups across five hospital sites, three primary birthing units, two continuing care facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive range of primary, secondary and tertiary health services.

A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.

ENDS

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