PM To Blame For Motorcade Madness

ACT New Zealand Justice Spokesman Stephen Franks today urged Police Commissioner Rob Robinson not to pursue a witch-hunt against officers who plainly thought they were doing the best they could for their boss in breaking speed limits to get Prime Minister Helen Clark to the rugby on time.

"Miss Clark should know that the buck stops with her. She must have known that her motorcade was screaming through the country - perhaps she thinks it should be normal to scatter peasants like a South American dictator," Mr Franks said.

"The Prime Minister must have known that the police and her driver felt that they were doing her will.

"A leader who plainly feels that she is, or is above, the law should be big enough to accept responsibility - not leave over-enthusiastic police officers facing the rap and the Commissioner's inquiry alone.

"If rugby is a good enough excuse for the Prime Minister, then what will the police now say to the mother in a hurry to get home to the kids, or the harried commuter late for work?

"At the least, Police Minister George Hawkins must now listen to the complaint of otherwise law-abiding citizens and restore the 10km/h over limit leeway which was, until recently, allowed to ordinary citizens in a hurry," Mr Franks said.

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