The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into an officer pursuing a fleeing dirt bike rider who then crashed in Auckland.
The officer saw two dirt bike riders without helmets riding recklessly on the road. The officer activated red and blue flashing lights and siren to signal the riders to stop. They slowed their speed, but failed to stop for the officer who initiated a pursuit.
The driving behaviour of the two riders improved while they were being pursued. One rider escaped down a walkway at the end of a cul-de-sac. The other crashed into a wooden fence while attempting to do the same. The second rider was seriously injured. Officers provided first aid before transporting him to hospital. The first rider fled and was not located.
The Police investigation found the actions of the officer to be appropriate and that no breaches of Police policy were identified.
The Authority concluded that the officer was justified in signalling the riders to stop but to then pursue them when they failed to stop was unjustified as we do not consider the overall offence-harm risk was high enough. Our findings are in line with the Police Fleeing Driver policy.
The Authority is satisfied with the outcome of the investigation.
IPCA: 23-20293