Officer's file snooping 'not criminal'

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A police officer who illegitimately accessed the file of a woman pack raped by police officers Bob Schollum and Brad Shipton did not commit a criminal act, a police investigation has found.

Shipton, Schollum, and Tauranga millionaire Peter McNamara were convicted in July 2005 of raping the then 20-year-old woman in Mt Maunganui in January 1989.

A fourth man, Warren Hales later admitted abducting her.

His brother, police officer Steven Hales was the subject of a police investigation, after he accessed the victim's file.

The investigation found he breached police computer policy and would have be subject to disciplinary action if he had not resigned, 3News reported tonight.

"There is a combination of questionable and illegitimate use of police technology, however no evidence of criminality," it said.

Hales told police he had accessed the file to find an update about his brother's parole and hadn't done anything with the information.

In hindsight it was "a stupid thing to do", he said.

The victim, who cannot be named, did not believe he was sincere.

"It doesn't make any difference as to how safe I feel, with somebody having access to my details - especially a policeman who had no right," she told the broadcaster.

She did not think he realised the implications of what he did.

"He placed me in a situation where I felt invaded. I felt unsafe in my own home, because he had those details of where I lived and where I worked."

Police would not comment on the investigation, because part of the file was still before the courts with police being sued in civil action.

- NZPA