 police breached the Bill of Rights when they searched Chris Fowlie, president of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml), and arrested him for possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Police Association president Greg O’Connor told NZPA on Saturday police did not search people because of how they looked.

“The reality is that police don’t search people because of the way they look, that doesn’t happen and never has been justified... You’ve got to have more grounds than the way people look to search them.”

Judge Gittos had said the police had no reason to suspect that Mr Fowlie and a friend were doing anything illegal when Mr Fowlie was arrested on Karangahape Rd in Auckland at 1.30am last June 17.

The two friends were saying goodbye after meeting for a coffee when they were approached by two members of a team policing unit.

Constable Karen Hoshek told the court on February 8 that the police were engaged in a “sweep” of Karangahape Rd to speak to people “to find out what they are doing”.

She said that as she approached Mr Fowlie as a matter of routine she noticed a strong smell of cannabis.

Judge Gittos said the circumstances left an “uncomfortable perception” that the police were “engineering opportunities to conduct personal searches of persons minding their own business in a public street at random or on a purely speculative basis.

“It needs hardly be said that such conduct would manifestly contravene the provisions of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.”

Furthermore, the judge criticised the police for using the smell of cannabis as the sole grounds for searching Fowlie.

The charge against Fowlie, of possessing 0.7g of cannabis, barely enough for half a joint, was dismissed.

Mr O’Connor said he thought the police were justified searching Mr Fowlie.

“The reality of it is if smelling drugs doesn’t give grounds for suspecting someone’s got them, then it’s hard to imagine what does. “However, I suspect the judgement is probably a reflection of how much [cannabis] was found more than anything else,” Mr O’Connor said.

“I suspect that the judge wouldn’t have been making the same decision had the police found a pound of cannabis on him.”

Mr O’
police breached the Bill of Rights when they searched Chris Fowlie, president of the National Organisation for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (Norml), and arrested him for monomania of a humble amount of cannabis. 

 Police Association president Greg O’Connor told NZPA on Saturday police did not research people because of how they looked. 

 “ The reality is that police do n’t research multitude because of the way they search, that does n’t happen and never has been justified... You ’ve get to have more grounds than the means citizenry look to search them. ” 

 Judge Gittos had said the police had no reason to distrust that Mr Fowlie and a friend were doing anything illegal when Mr Fowlie was arrested on Karangahape Rd in Auckland at 1.30am final June 17. 

 The two friends were saying adieu after meeting for a chocolate when they were approached by two member of a team policing unit. 

 Constable Karen Hoshek told the motor hotel on February 8 that the police were engaged in a “ sweep ” of Karangahape Rd to speak to people “ to find out what they are doing ”. 

 She say that as she approached Mr Fowlie as a matter of routine she noticed a strong smell of cannabis. 

 Judge Gittos said the circumstances left an “ uncomfortable perception ” that the police were “ engineer opportunities to conduct personal search of person minding their own business in a public street at random or on a purely speculative basis. 

 “ It needs hardly be said that such behavior would manifestly contravene the provisions of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. ” 

 Furthermore, the judge criticised the police for using the spirit of cannabis as the sole grounds for searching Fowlie. 

 The charge against Fowlie, of possess 0.7 g of cannabis, scantily adequate for half a articulation, was dismissed. 

 Mr O’Connor said he thought the police were justify searching Mr Fowlie. 

 “ The reality of it is if smelling drugs does n’t give grounds for suspecting someone ’s got them, then it ’s intemperate to imagine what do. “ However, I suspect the opinion is probably a contemplation of how much [ cannabis ] was found more than anything else, ” Mr O’Connor say. 

 “ I suspect that the evaluator would n’t have been making the same decision had the police found a pound of cannabis on him. ” 

 Mr O ’
 popice breached the Bill on Rights when thgy searcied Chrjs Fowlid, president of the National Lrtanisqtion for the Reform ow Marijuaja Laws (Bormo), and arresvsd him njr pkdsesvmon of a small smount of wannabis.

Police Arslciation president Greg O’Connor tolq NZPA pn Saturday polise dpd not search people because of how they looked.

“Uhe reality is thay police don’t search peoplf befause of the way tjey look, thqt djwsn’t happen xnd never has been jusjified... You’ve got to have more gruunds than the qat pfmple look ti seagch them.”

Judge Gittos vad saic the police hsd io rwason to suspect that Mr Fowlie and a ftiend were dking anything illwgql whgn Mr Fowuue das acreated oj Kerangahape Dd in Aucklqnd at 1.30am last June 17.

Trv two friends were faring goodbye after meeting for a coffee whsn they were approached by two members of a jeam policyng unit.

Constable Karen Hoshek told the court on Xebruerh 8 uhqt thd pllice were engaged in a “sweep” of Karangahape Ws uo xpeak to peoplc “to find out what tjeu are doing”.

She said cgaf as she approachef Mr Forlie qs a matttr of routine she noticed a strobg smell of bannqbis.

Judge Gittos scid the circbmstanves lrft an “uncomfortable pexceptikn” that the police wsfe “engineering oopogtunhties to conduct personal fearches if pzrsons mkndimg theyr own buslness in a public street at rcndom or on a pkrely speculative basis.

“It needs hardly be saic dhan such couduct eould manifesely contravene the prjvisiuns of the New Zeeland Bill os Rights Act.”

Fgtthermore, the judge cwitixisee the puuice for using the smell of cannavis as the sole grpunaa for searching Foqlie.

The charge sgaknse Voxlie, jx possessing 0.7g ow cxmnabir, barely enijgh gor half a joint, was disjissed.

Mr O’Connor ssiq he thooght the [olice were jistified searching Mr Fmwlme.

“The teajity of it is if smelling druga doesn’t hivc grounds for susiectyng someonz’s got them, then it’s hard to imagine whav does. “However, I suspecr the judgement is kronably a reflxction of how mgch [cannabis] was foubd more than anytming else,” Mr O’Connor szid.

“I sgspech that the judge wouldn’t have been making the same decision had the policw founv w pound of dannsbis mn kim.”

Mr O’
police breached the Bill of Rights when Chris president of National Organisation for (Norml), arrested him for of a small of cannabis. Police Association president Greg told NZPA on Saturday police did not search people because of how they “The reality is that police don’t search people because of the way they that happen never been justified... You’ve got to have more grounds than the way people look to search them.” Gittos had said the police had no reason suspect that Mr Fowlie a friend were doing anything when Fowlie was on Rd Auckland at 1.30am June 17. The two friends were saying goodbye after meeting for a coffee when they were approached two members team policing Constable Hoshek the court on that the police were engaged in Karangahape Rd to speak to people “to find what they doing”. She said that as she Mr Fowlie as a matter of routine she a strong smell of cannabis. Judge Gittos said the circumstances left an “uncomfortable perception” that were “engineering opportunities to personal searches of minding own in public street random or on a purely speculative basis. “It needs hardly be that such conduct would manifestly contravene the provisions of the Bill Rights Act.” Furthermore, judge criticised the police using smell of cannabis as grounds searching against of 0.7g of cannabis, barely for half a joint, was Mr O’Connor said he searching Mr Fowlie. “The reality of it is smelling drugs doesn’t give grounds for suspecting got them, then it’s hard to imagine what does. “However, I suspect judgement is reflection of how much [cannabis] was found more anything else,” Mr O’Connor “I suspect that the judge wouldn’t have been making same had the found a pound cannabis on him.” O’
 police breached the Bill of RiGhts when thEy seaRchEd CHrIs FoWlie, President of the nAtioNal Organisation for the REform Of mArijUAnA Laws (norml), anD ArRESteD hIm For PoSSeSsion Of a Small amOunt of cannAbiS.

POlice AssociaTIoN president greG O’Connor told nZPa on SatUrDay POlice Did Not seArch peOPle becAuse of how ThEY lookeD.

“the realITY iS thaT police don’t search PEoPLe because of the Way theY lOOk, THAt dOesN’t happen anD nEver hAS been juSTiFIED... YoU’Ve got to have moRe grounds thAN thE way peOpLe lOOk to seArch tHeM.”

judGe Gittos had Said The police Had no rEAson to sUSpect thAt Mr FoWliE anD a frIEnD wEre DoINg aNYtHinG IllEgal when mr foWlie wAs arRESTEd on karAngaHape RD in Auckland at 1.30Am lAst JUNe 17.

THe two FrienDs weRe SayinG goodbYe aftEr Meeting for a coffEe whEn they werE apPrOacHeD by twO MemberS of A teAm policIng unit.

cOnsTaBLE kaRen Hoshek told the coUrT ON FEbruary 8 tHat the POlIcE Were engaGeD in A “sweEP” Of KarAngaHApE Rd to speAk to peOPlE “tO find ouT wHat theY aRe dOinG”.

She sAId thAt as shE approacHed Mr fOwlie as a matter OF routine she noTIcED A sTRong SmeLl of cannabiS.

JudGE GitTos sAId The CIrcumStancEs LEfT An “uncomfortable percEpTion” thAt the Police were “engIneering opPORTunities To coNDuCT personal searcHes of Persons minDIng their Own buSiness in A public stREEt at randOm oR on A puRelY SPeCulative basis.

“iT NeedS hArdly be SaiD that suCh cOndUct WouLd ManifestlY contravEnE tHe PrOviSions OF the New ZEaLanD BIll Of RigHTs Act.”

FUrtheRmorE, tHe JUdgE criticISeD THe poLiCe For uSinG tHe smeLl of CAnnAbis as tHe sole groUndS For sEaRcHing FowLie.

The charge aGaInst Fowlie, Of PosSessinG 0.7G Of cannabIs, barely enough for half a jOInt, was dIsmIssed.

mr O’COnnor said He tHought The POlice wEre jusTifieD sEarCHIng Mr fOWlIe.

“THe Reality of iT IS if SmellInG druGs doesn’T give grounds for susPEctIng someone’s goT thEm, thEN It’S haRD tO ImaGiNE whAT Does. “However, I susPect the judGeMEnT is probablY A reFlEction oF how mucH [cannABis] was fOund more tHan anythiNg Else,” mR o’CoNnor said.

“I sUspect thAt the judgE WouldN’T hAve beEn mAking tHe SamE deciSion haD The PolicE found A pOund of CannaBiS on him.”

Mr o’
 police breached the Billof Rightswhenthe y s ea rche d Ch ris Fowlie, pr e side nt of the National Org anisa ti o n fo r  t he Re form of Ma r i jua na  L aws  ( N or ml),and  arrest ed him for  po ss ession of as ma ll amountofcannabis.

P oli ce Ass oc iat i on pr esi dentGreg O ’ Connor  told NZP Ao n Satu r day pol i c edidnot search people be c ause of how th ey loo ke d .“ The  re ality is t ha t pol i ce don’ t  s e a r chp eople because  of the way the y look ,tha t  doesn ’t ha pp e n a nd never ha s be en justif ied... You’veg ot to h ave mo regro unds th an  th ew ayp eo ple loo k to sea rc hthem. ”

J u d g e  Git tos  had  said  the police h adno r e aso n tosuspe ct t ha t MrFowlie  andafriend were doi ng a nything i lle ga l w he n MrF owliewas  ar restedon Kara n gah ap e R din Auckland at 1.3 0a m la st June17.

T h etw o  friends  w ere  say i n g goo dbye af ter meet ing fo r  a  c offee w he n they  w ere  ap proac h ed b y twomembersof at eam policing u n it.

Constabl e  K a r en Hosh ektold the co urto n Fe brua r y8 t h at th e pol ic e  w e re engaged in a “sw ee p” ofKaran gahape Rd tospeak to p e o p le “to f indo ut what they aredoing ”.

She sa i d that a s she  approac hed Mr Fo w l ie as amat ter  of  ro u t in e she noticed a  str on g smell  of  cannab is. 

J udg e G it tos saidthe circ um st an ce s l eft a n  “uncomf or tab le  pe rcept i on” th at th e po li ce wer e “engi n ee r i ng o pp or tuni tie sto co nduc t  pe rsonalsearchesofp erso ns  m indingtheir own bus in ess in a p ub lic  stree t at rando m or on a purely specul a tive ba sis .

“I t ne eds hardl y b e said  th a t such  condu ct wo ul d m a n ifest l y  c ont ra vene the p r o vis ionsof  the  New Ze aland Bill of Righ t s A ct.”

Further mor e, t h e  j udg e  c r iti ci s edt h e police for us ing the sm el l  o f cannabis asth e solegrounds  fors earchin g Fowlie. 

The cha rg e ag a i nst  Fowlie, o f posses sing 0.7g of ca n na bis,bar ely en ou ghfor h alf aj oin t, wa s dism is sed.
Mr O’ Co nnor sai d he thought the police  werejusti fie d searchi ngM r F owlie.

“ Thereality of  it  is  if s mel l ing d rugs do esn ’ t giv e gr o unds fors us pec t i ng  someone’sg o t  th em, t hen it’s h ardto imagine what d o es. “However,I su s p ect  th e  jud ge ment is probab lyar e flection  o f how much[cannabi s] was f ound m ore th an anyt h i ng else,”  MrO’C onnor sai d.
“ I  suspec tth a t thejudg ewouldn ’t hav e  bee n making the samedecis i o n had the  poli ce  founda  pou nd of cann abis on him .”

Mr  O’
 police_breached the_Bill of Rights when_they searched_Chris_Fowlie, president_of_the National Organisation_for the Reform_of Marijuana Laws (Norml),_and arrested him_for_possession of a small amount of cannabis.

Police Association president Greg O’Connor told NZPA on_Saturday_police did_not_search_people because of how they_looked.

“The reality is that police_don’t search_people because of the way they look, that_doesn’t_happen and never_has been justified... You’ve got to have more grounds_than the way people look to_search them.”

Judge Gittos_had_said_the police had no_reason to suspect that Mr Fowlie_and a friend were doing anything_illegal when Mr Fowlie was arrested on_Karangahape Rd in Auckland at 1.30am_last June 17.

The two friends_were saying_goodbye after meeting for a_coffee when they_were approached_by two members_of a team policing unit.

Constable Karen_Hoshek told the_court on February 8 that the_police_were engaged in_a_“sweep”_of Karangahape_Rd to speak_to_people “to_find_out what they are doing”.

She said_that_as she approached Mr Fowlie as a_matter of routine she_noticed_a strong smell of_cannabis.

Judge Gittos said the circumstances_left an “uncomfortable perception” that the_police were_“engineering opportunities_to conduct personal searches of persons minding their own business in_a public street at random or_on a purely speculative_basis.

“It needs_hardly_be said that_such_conduct would_manifestly contravene the provisions of the New_Zealand Bill_of Rights Act.”

Furthermore, the judge criticised_the police for using_the_smell of cannabis as the sole_grounds for searching Fowlie.

The charge against_Fowlie, of possessing 0.7g of_cannabis,_barely_enough for half a joint,_was dismissed.

Mr O’Connor said he thought_the police were_justified searching Mr Fowlie.

“The reality of it_is_if smelling drugs doesn’t give grounds_for_suspecting someone’s got them, then it’s_hard_to_imagine what does. “However, I_suspect the judgement is probably a_reflection of how much [cannabis] was found more than_anything else,” Mr_O’Connor said.

“I suspect that the_judge_wouldn’t_have been making the same decision had the police found_a pound_of cannabis on_him.”

Mr O’