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Mana Whanonga Pirihimana Motuhake

Home / Investigation Reports & Media / 2018-19 Summaries of Police Investigations

Complaint of excessive force during arrest

21 March 2019

The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a notification alleging excessive force by a Police officer in the Waikato District. That officer was alleged to have used excessive force in arresting a man, and subsequently punching him in the face while driving him to the Police station. Police carried out criminal and employment investigations. The criminal investigation found that due to a lack of independent witnesses and the unreliability of the complainant's evidence, there was insufficient evidence to prosecute. The employment investigation found that the complainant's injuries did not result from excessive use of force, but that the officer should not have placed the complainant in the front seat of his car to transport him back to the Police station. The Authority agreed with the Police findings.

IPCA: 17-2158

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