NZ Police: 4 years to commence assault investigation!

[Macstar]

I got a call today on my mobile phone: "Constable blah blah from blah blah station" at first I started laughing cause it's an old joke me and my mates play on each other (calling up and pretending to be the cops), then I realised this guy was for real.

Cop: "Mr XXXX, do you still wish us to proceed with the investigation of your reported assault?".
Me: What assault?
Cop: "The one that took place on XXXXXX Road"
Me: "That was 3 or 4 years ago?!"
Cop: "Errrrr, yes, 2004".

Unbelievable, this cop just got the file... So, four years later it appears I may get my day in court!

P.S. My one and only traffic infringement notice for the last 6 years took less than two weeks to arrive in the mail from a speed camera that clocked me 600kms from home. I'll leave you guys to draw your own conclusions!

[Mekk]

Sounds like someone cocked up along the line. I very much doubt that's the standard wait time for something of that nature.

[oldrider]

Was it a complaint about assault by one of the cops?

If it was that might explain the delay. John.

[Usarka]

I got called as a witness to a serious crash after 12 months. I told them to piss off and use my statement, I cant remember what i had for lunch yesterday let alone the details from 12 months ago.

[Edit:] Thats almost as bad as my letter from ACC 14 months after an accident, Hi - where here to help you with your rehabilitation......

[fireball]

wow its taken that long?
i had my day in court the week after i was arrested....

some one must have lost the paperwork

[Macstar]

Turns out the coppers want to throw the book at this guy (he is facing other charges as well). So yes, likely the paper work was 'misplaced' for a more convenient time - such as now.

[Usarka]

Maybe the cops are sick of people charged with serious assaults being given suspended sentences (ie slap on the wrist) and "lost" the paperwork until they got some more charges.......

especially when previous convictions cant be disclosed to a jury in this outstanding land of ours.