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Home / Investigation Reports & Media / 2021 Summaries of Police Investigations

Officer in Auckland City accused of assaulting a 16 year old in custody

6 May 2021

The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into an allegation a Police officer assaulted a 16 year old who was being held in custody.

The officer entered the youth's cell to stop him banging and is alleged to have assaulted him by pushing him against a wall, taking him to the ground and elbowing him in the back. Police commenced criminal and employment investigations into the officer's conduct.

There was no CCTV footage of the incident, but various Police officers were in the custody unit and two other officers witnessed some of the interaction. The criminal investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support a charge of assault. The employment investigation concluded it was unnecessary for the officer to enter the cell in the first instance. This matter was addressed directly with the officer. The Authority agrees with the outcomes.

IPCA: 20-3870

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