The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into an incident where the rider of a quadbike, who had been signalled to stop, collided with a Police car in Waikato. The quadbike had been reported stolen, and the rider and their passenger were travelling at unsafe speeds, with no protective gear, on a state highway.
The Police investigation established that the rider of the quadbike started to slow down as they passed one Police car, which was parked on the median of the road and signalling them to stop. The driver of the second Police car, who was parked in a similar fashion, thought the rider was coming to a stop, crossed the centre-line and pulled in front of the quadbike’s path to prevent the rider from fleeing. The rider accelerated to avoid the oncoming Police car but crashed the quadbike into the rear of the officer’s vehicle. The rider and their passenger were hospitalised because of the crash.
Police examined the officer’s actions criminally and concluded that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute them. The Authority disagreed and found there was sufficient evidence to prove the officer drove dangerously. However, we did not think that a prosecution would be in the public interest.
Police subsequently addressed the officer’s actions through an employment process.
The Authority is satisfied with the investigation Police undertook and the outcome reached.
IPCA: 24-24191