The Authority was notified by Police of an incident relating to two alleged assaults of a prisoner at Christchurch custody suite. Both assaults occurred on the same day and were allegedly perpetrated by the same Police Authorised Officer. The officer has subsequently resigned from Police.
Police conducted a criminal investigation which determined there was sufficient evidence to charge the officer for assault, but it was not in the public interest to do so. This determination was largely due to the officer resigning from Police.
The Authority accepts it was open to Police to decide not to charge the officer when considering the public interest test under the Solicitor-General's Prosecution Guidelines. Police were unable to complete an employment investigation as the officer resigned.
IPCA: 19-1274