Police arrest over giant joint “unlawful” say NT Ombudsman and DPP

The NT Ombudsman and Department of Public Prosecutions have described the arrest of NAP Coordinator Gary Meyerhoff on April 20 this year “unlawful.”

Mr Meyerhoff was arrested after making the first address at a public rally to oppose the Labor Government’s new drug house laws. Meyerhoff was arrested for failing to cease to loiter. Earlier in the day he had been approached by members of the drug squad, searched and warned not to return to Raintree Park, the rally site before 3pm. This warning was unlawful.

Meyerhoff and fellow activist Mick Lambe were charged with a number of offences including possessing cannabis, assault police, loitering and resist arrest. All of these charges were dropped in October.

2 Detectives will be counseled and will receive training with regards to loitering. One police3 auxilary has also been counseled after failing to follow up on adequate medical treatment for Mr Lambe, who was injured during the scuffle.

Meyerhoff said “this is a victory for freedom of speech in the Northern Territory.”

“The NT Government obviously wanted to prevent the smoke-in from occurring in an attempt to stifle debate about their draconian drug house legislation.”

“It is alarming that no police officers have been charged with assault or unlawful imprisonment as a result of the Ombudsman’s report.”

“The 1st Community Smoke-in on the 20th April saw a major police operation with over 50 officers, a shop commandeered in the mall and police officers filming and photographing those present at the rally.”

NAP coordinated 7 community smoke-ins during 2002, all have been peaceful with the exception of the 1st and 6th smoke-ins, where NT police attacked peaceful protesters.

Meyerhoff said “the NT Government and their police have not deterred NAP supporters. NAP have already started to organize the first community smoke-in for 2003 on the 8th of February.

For further information, please see the attached Ombudsman’s report, call Gary on 0415 16 2525 see the website www.napnt.org