Police call was ‘intimidating’
A woman says she was ‘‘intimidated’’ by a phone call from police after she became an online supporter of Horowhenua’s underfire mayor Michael Feyen.
Bernadette Casey, who owns property in Horowhenua, said she got the call from police on her cellphone on Monday morning.
It comes in the lead-up to an explosive vote to remove Feyenappointed deputy mayor Ross Campbell at a December 7 meeting expected to draw a huge crowd – and protests.
Casey said the call came after she signed an online petition calling for councillors and chief executive David Clapperton to support Feyen, or be replaced.
When she asked why she was called, she was told it was because the council wanted to know what was going on, Casey said.
‘‘The phone call was clearly to intimidate... That’s not a good use of police resources.’’
She shared the petition link on Facebook and confirmed she would attend on the protest page. ‘‘It’s made me think there’s something really wrong when you start receiving intimidatory phone calls from police at the behest of the Horowhenua District Council.’’
Clapperton said staff spoke with police about the protest to ensure public safety, ‘‘and for the protest to be carried out peacefully and without incident’’.
‘‘Police indicated they would contact protest organisers,’’ he said.
Horowhenua relieving senior sergeant Sam Gilpin said it was common for police to make contact with people involved in protests and ‘‘identify their intentions, obtain the correct information and ensure planned protests are carried out in a peaceful manner’’.
Feyen could not be reached for comment.