The Authority oversaw a Police review into a pursuit where officers shot the tyres of a fleeing car.
On 7 November 2021, Police attempted to stop a stolen car. The gang related occupants had been involved in committing serious crime in the Central District region. They had committed vehicle and property thefts and had previously used firearms in their offending including shooting a person on 2 November 2021 and shooting at a police officer on 5th November 2021.
A pursuit with the car resulted in armed police attempting to apprehend the occupants on Tangimoana beach. The occupants dumped their car and stolen another removing the people at gun point. While the vehicle was stationary in the sand dunes, Police fired and deflated the vehicles tyres to prevent its escape. The vehicle and occupants managed to escape, and its armed occupants then stole another vehicle on the beach. Police located this stolen vehicle near Longburn and police officers used a non-compliant vehicle stop to arrest the occupants.
The police review found the officers involved had not breached the law or Police policy in shooting at the vehicles tyres in what was a dynamic and rapidly evolving situation.
The Authority agrees with the Police findings and notes that Police have adequately reviewed the incident.