New Zealand Police APEC Operations

Detective Superintendent Peter Marshall, APEC Operation Commander, says that police are in direct contact with wide ranging groups in relation to protest action during APEC.

"We initiated these meetings so we could gauge how many protestors to expect, where to expect them and to help facilitate wherever possible," Mr Marshall says.

"It's their right to protest and we are more than happy for them to do it.  In fact we are doing everything we can to help, including sending out a letter to the groups outlining what their legal rights are and helping them find suitable places to stage their protest.

"Hopefully this way we can avoid arrests."

Mr Marshall says that photographing and videoing protest action is a common practice for police and will be done openly during APEC.

"The staff involved are dressed in police overalls and clearly visible as police," he says.  "It is done for numerous reasons including assisting in the investigation of any complaints about police actions as well as the identification and prosecution of offenders."

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