Police Seek Exemption From ‘gay’ Law (Press, 22 August 1985)
This is a Generative AI summary of this newspaper article. It may contain errors or omissions. Please note that the language in the summary is reflective of the original article and the societal attitudes of the time in which it was written.
Summary: Police Seek Exemption From ‘gay’ Law (Press, 22 August 1985)
On 22 August 1985, Mr Ken Thompson, the Commissioner of Police, voiced significant concerns regarding the potential impact of the proposed Homosexual Law Reform Bill on police operations and public trust. In a submission to Parliament's Justice and Law Reform Select Committee, Mr Thompson stated that the bill, which aimed to decriminalise consensual sexual activities for adult males over the age of 16 and to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, could harm public co-operation with law enforcement. Mr Thompson explained that the effectiveness of the police is closely tied to their acceptability in the community. He expressed fears that if homosexuals were allowed to serve in the police force, it could deter certain members of the public from seeking help from police officers. He highlighted that some individuals might feel uncomfortable or unwilling to interact with a homosexual officer, which could ultimately hinder their willingness to come forward as complainants or witnesses. The Commissioner noted the importance of public trust in various police initiatives, such as the "blue light" discos intended for young people. He warned that if the police did not have the ability to control the recruitment of homosexuals, some parents might choose to withdraw their support for such events, affecting the participation of young people. Mr Thompson also raised concerns about the credibility of the police youth aid section and the possible disciplinary issues that might arise if command structures were weakened by this law reform. In conclusion, Mr Thompson argued for an exemption from the proposed anti-discrimination provisions, suggesting that the personal lives of officers could disrupt the professional respect needed within the force and undermine public confidence in police integrity and authority. The concerns articulated by Mr Thompson reflect the broader societal debates around sexual orientation, discrimination, and the role of police in New Zealand during this period.
Important Information
The text on this page is created, in the most part, using Generative AI and so may contain errors or omissions. It is supplied to you without guarantee or warranty of correctness. If you find an error or would like to make a content suggestion please get in contact
The text on this page is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 New Zealand