A high-level secret police investigation has been launched into a senior policewoman's pending marriage to porn film maker Steve Crowe, New Zealand's largest distributor of pornographic material. Police have questioned Gaylene Rogers, a prosecuting sergeant in Auckland, over the relationship.

Crowe has 33 criminal convictions for distributing objectionable material and clashed with Health Minister Annette King over wanting to film a womangiving birth in a porn film, which King banned from taking place in a public hospital.

Police spokesman Jon Neilson said: "We're aware of the situation and are looking into it." He said the matter was an employer and employee relationship issue and he would not comment further. The Sunday Star-Times understands an officer complained about the relationship and police investigated whether her association was professional or could bring the force into disrepute.

Police are told they have to be above public criticism at all times and their integrity has to be unquestioned.

A report was handed to police management and the Police Complaints Authority was alerted. Rogers would not comment, but Crowe said she was "devastated" by the inquiry.

She was asked a series of questions over "associating, in their opinion, with a convicted criminal", but was then told there was no case to answer. But the file remained open, said Crowe.

"She was gutted," said Crowe. "She's been seven or eight years with the police and has a flawless record and is incredibly dedicated at what she does and loves her job. She was a basket case for weeks, bawling her eyes out. It nearly destroyed her. It made me incredibly angry. She's my fiancee and I'm very protective."

Crowe said as long as the relationship did not affect her job it was not an issue. They never talked about work.

"I've never even seen her in her uniform. I've ironed her shirts for her a couple of times, but that's it," he said.

He was not even allowed at Rogers' last staff Christmas party as police did not want him there.

Crowe had wanted to talk with police bosses over what he considered an invasion of his partner's privacy but did not because of her wishes.

Rogers told her boss days after they met through friends early last year.

"She has completely and utterly been above board. She wanted to be careful because I'm reasonably high profile," said Crowe.

According to the Human Rights Act, it is unlawful to discriminate in employment on the grounds of family status, including de facto relationships, but exceptions are dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Police national manager of professional standards superintendent Graham Emery would not comment on this case, but said in general terms the department was informed when an officer married for "statistics purposes".

Officers used to have to seek permission from the police commissioner to get married, but this stopped about 1990.

Emery said police were in general told not to associate with people with a criminal history, but there were no set rules. Each case was dealt with individually.

If there was an issue over an officer seeing someone who was "not of good character" police normally found out quickly through the rumour mill and could investigate.

But Emery said the issue was difficult because of the Employment Relations Act and privacy issues.