The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a pursuit in Napier on 22 October 2018.
Police initially received reports from members of the public that the fleeing driver was smoking drugs in his vehicle. A pursuit was initiated when the fleeing driver did not stop. The fleeing driver entered a roundabout on the wrong side of the road and subsequently reached a maximum speed of 100kph in a 50kph area. The pursuit was later abandoned when the fleeing driver carried out an unsafe U-Turn and nearly crashed into a civilian vehicle. It was reinitiated after road spikes were successfully used to deflate the fleeing vehicle's tyres.
The fleeing driver then rammed a Police vehicle and other Police units decided to carry out a non-complaint vehicle block to stop the offending vehicle. Extensive damage was caused to the Police vehicles.
Police found that the pursuit should not have been commenced as the risks outweighed the reported offending by the fleeing driver. Officers involved were required to complete training.
The Authority agreed with the Police findings and outcome.
IPCA: 18-0789