Messiter v Police - [1980] 1 NZLR 586

Criminal law — Police offences — Use of insulting words in a public place — Policewoman followed defendant into toilets of a city bar — Defendant became agitated at policewoman examining the contents of her handbag and swore at the officer — Whether the toilets were a "public place" - Whether the circumstances were such as to warrant the intervention of the criminal law — Police Offences Act 1927, s 3D.