Concerns about erasure of videotape by police

Police Minister Graham Edwards said today he had grave concerns about the actions of police officers who confiscated and erased a Channel 9 videotape on Monday night.

"I have some sympathy for the police officers seizing the tape if they felt their operation had been compromised," Mr Edwards said.

"However, erasure of the tape is indefensible and if the inquiry I have asked for confirms that the officers acted improperly, then disciplinary action must be taken."

Mr Edwards said he was appalled, however, that Opposition police spokesman George Cash had pointed to parallels between this incident and the infamous Los Angeles incident in which five police officers were videotaped bashing a negro named Rodney King.

"These sorts of comments are outrageous and totally distort what this incident is all about," Mr Edwards said.

"There has never been any suggestion, as far as I am aware, that the tape was confiscated so police could destroy some sort of evidence that they had bashed a suspect."