This news article disturbs me on many fronts. To allow a new or current partner secret access to someone’s historical police record that is sealed will only end in corrupting relationships and could potentially end in male suicide.

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11491411

Criminal history is defined as conviction history. That is going to court and being convicted for criminal acts. Usually sealed under the clean slate act after a period of time. Even police staff can’t browse or gain access to sealed historical criminal history because of the damage it could do to someone’s reputation, employment and family relationships.

A police record is quite different as it would contain items such as alleged assaults and not guilty verdicts and anything else like demerit points and hearsay. These are not covered by the clean slate act.

Allowing the investigators of allegations (that is the police) not the courts will sidestep Judges who seal such information including false allegations and will undoubtedly end in more adversity for men. The police are never impartial when it comes to providing truthful information that a court would or a jury has decided.

What this new proposed law means is in some cases, without trial or being proven not guilty or a situation where a man argues or fights with a woman to defend himself, but only the man wears the allegation, or conviction. These things could be disclosed.

This whole law is seriously fraught with such with danger and loss for not only men but their families, partners and children as well.

Think about it!! Once known by one will soon be discussed by two, then four, eight, sixteen….. How would the victim cope with that and what do you expect the outcome would be.