CANNABIS ACTIVISTS CLAIM POSTERS

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CANNABIS ACTIVISTS CLAIM POSTERS


Cannabis law reform activists are responsible for a number of 'wanted'


posters featuring a Nelson policeman in plainclothes that have appeared around the city.


The posters ask for help identifying the man and give the Nelson Police Station as a contact phone number.


Law reform activist Duncan Eddy said the posters had been put up by individuals present at the "Merry Cannabis" demonstration at the Church Steps in December. Mr Eddy said they related to the treatment of a 21 year old protestor who was arrested.


The arrested man faces cannabis and disorderly behaviour charges, and a charge of resisting arrest. Mr Eddy said the man had pleaded not guilty as he believed police had not followed the proper process in arresting him.


"In society people should have the right to protest and police should have the right to arrest people as well. But there is a process they have to go through. They should at least identify themselves as police before they lay a hand on them." The arrested man had reacted "in a situation that most people would have reacted in", he said. Senior Constable Phil Wylie confirmed the man in the poster photograph was a Nelson policeman.


Mr Wylie said as far as he was aware police had received no complaints relating to their conduct at the December demonstration.


Police were "disappointed" the people responsible for the posters had not contacted them directly or made a complaint to the Police Complaints Authority. Police would not be 'wasting any time" on the matter, he said.