Media releases 2018

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that a Police investigation into inappropriate contact between a teacher and a student in Gisborne in 2014 was deficient in several respects.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has completed its investigation into an incident on 6 December 2017, when Police custody staff left a woman alone and unattended in a cell at New Plymouth District Court for almost six hours.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that Police were justified in using a Taser and two Police dogs to subdue a man before arresting him in Kawhia on 13 July 2017. However, the Authority also found that additional discharges of the Taser were not justified and were excessive.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has completed its investigation into two self-harm incidents, involving the same female prisoner, at the Counties Manukau Police District Custody Unit (DCU) in October and November 2017. The Authority found that Police failed to appropriately receive, evaluate, and monitor the woman while she was in Police custody.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that a Police officer used excessive force while arresting a man in Auckland on 5 February 2017, by inappropriately 're-energising' a Taser on him after he had fallen to the ground.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that while Police acted unlawfully in October 2017 when they detained a Queenstown man for a mental health assessment, their actions were reasonable in the circumstances.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that an officer's actions during a pursuit in Auckland on 23 October 2017 constituted dangerous driving. The officer drove at speeds reaching 200kph in an 80kph area during the pursuit. Ultimately the fleeing vehicle left the road at high speed and struck a tree.

Out of the 3.5 million vehicle stops New Zealand Police officers make every year, approximately 3,800 become fleeing driver events. While these events only represent a very small proportion (0.1%) of vehicle stops, drivers who fail to stop for Police and subsequently undertake high risk driving behaviour increase the risk of serious injury or death to themselves and the public.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that two officers were justified in discharging firearms at a man who fired a semi-automatic rifle at them in Morrinsville on 13 August 2017.