Top cop sorry over prince
POLICE Commissioner Ian Stewart has admitted his own officers may have broken the law and he offered an apology to Jade Buddha staff over how police acted in the Crown Prince Frederik ID scandal.
Mr Stewart said the police and the Prince had likely engaged in a “technical breach” of the legislation, but the Jade Buddha bar’s owners were unlikely to be prosecuted because they acted “in good faith” under instruction from police.
“I backed them 100 per cent for what they did last Friday night in looking after the Prince the way they did,” Mr Stewart said.
“I apologise unreservedly to anyone who was at the Jade Buddha if the Prince’s presence there caused any concern. Or if the way our officers acted created a perception of intimidation or what have you.”
Jade Buddha bar co-owner Phil Hogan accepted the Commissioner’s apology but questioned future handling of any ID scanning incidents.
“We’re happy with what (Commissioner Stewart) said,” Mr Hogan said.
“It’s a bit ironic though that (Queensland) licensees on Monday were told it was handled exemplary and if it happened again there isn’t much else different for us to do.
“So if Prince Harry turns up to check on the Commonwealth Games preparations, he’ll need to remember to bring his ID.”
The Prince Frederik incident raised global criticism about the state’s ID scanning laws which have seen pub and club operators refuse entry to more than 60 patrons a week, most of whom are tourists from out of state or overseas.