The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a crash between Police car and a motorcycle following a pursuit in the Wellington District in January 2023.
The officer had set up a cordon after the pursuit was abandoned. He then saw the motorcyclist riding down Awarua Street. He later told Police that the rider changed into his lane and was riding towards him. The officer says he swerved the Police car onto the footpath to avoid colliding with the motorcycle, but the rider also swerved onto the footpath, resulting in the collision. The rider of the motorcycle told Police that he was riding on the footpath and that the officer deliberately mounted the footpath’s kerb to block him, resulting in the collision.
The Police crash investigation could not determine which account was correct but found that the officer should have braked earlier. Police charged the officer and referred the matter to Te Pae Oranga for mediation (with consent of the motorcyclist).
The Authority identified deficiencies with the Police investigation, which Police acknowledged. Notwithstanding, we accept that Police dealt with the matter appropriately. Police have subsequently improved District processes for dealing with collisions involving Police staff.
IPCA: 23-16366