The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into an incident in Christchurch where Police continued to pursue a fleeing driver after being directed to abandon the pursuit, resulting in a head-on crash involving a civilian motorist.
The incident happened at about 8pm on 23 May 2019 when a vehicle of interest to Police failed to stop when signaled to do so. During the eight-minute pursuit, the fleeing driver was pursued onto the wrong side of Brougham Street by two Police patrols, causing the pursuit controller at the Southern Communications Centre to direct the pursuit be abandoned.
However, this direction was not adhered to by the driver of the lead patrol who overrode that direction by broadcasting over the radio that the fleeing driver must be stopped. The pursuit controller did not challenge this response or reaffirm his direction to abandon, resulting in the pursuit continuing.
Shortly after the fleeing driver crossed onto the wrong side of Ensor Road, followed by two patrol cars, before it crashed into the civilian vehicle.
The Police investigation found the actions of the two patrols in pursuing the fleeing driver onto the wrong side of Brougham Street was dangerous, and the pursuit should have been abandoned when directed by the pursuit controller. It also found the officer who challenged that direction did not have the authority to do so under Police policy.
In relation to the pursuit controller not reaffirming his direction to abandon, he mistakenly believed the challenge to his direction had been made by a more senior officer involved in the pursuit. The investigation found he should have done so regardless, or at least sought clarity before allowing the pursuit to continue.
Police have taken remedial action to address the shortcomings identified.
The Authority completed an independent review of the Police investigation and agreed with the outcome and findings.
IPCA: 18-2663