In December 2018, a prisoner in the Rotorua police custody hub injured his shoulder in a scuffle with an officer. The man said he was taunted by officers and denied medical treatment, despite repeated requests.

The Authority oversaw the Police investigation which concluded that the force used during the scuffle was justified, police did not taunt or laugh at the man and the first time the man mentioned his injury, was as he got into a van bound for prison. Police acknowledged there was a missed opportunity to call ahead to inform the prison receiving office, about the potential injury.

The Authority reviewed the Police investigation and is satisfied that the use of force during the scuffle was reasonable and agrees the police had an obligation to inform the prison the man may need medical attention.

The Authority also considered the conflicting accounts about whether the man was taunted or denied medical attention. The Authority does not believe further enquiries would be able to resolve this conflict between the accounts.

IPCA: 18-2065