The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into a pursuit through Lower Hutt on 13 December 2019.
The pursuit commenced when the vehicle failed to stop for a police patrol who signalled it to stop for speeding. On Eastern Hutt Road the vehicle travelled on the wrong side of the road before entering the suburb of Stokes Valley where two patrol cars conducted a manoeuvre to bring it to a stop.
The driver failed to exit the vehicle and one officer smashed the driver's window and reached in to grab him. The vehicle engine was still running and when the driver pulled away from the officer, he was pepper sprayed and removed from the vehicle. A second officer mounted the bonnet and tried to smash the front windscreen to extract the driver, but this was unsuccessful.
The investigation found the pursuit should have been abandoned when the vehicle crossed onto the wrong side of Eastern Hutt Road. It also found that the manoeuvre used to bring the vehicle to a stop was contrary to policy should not have been authorised.
In relation to the extraction of the driver from the vehicle, the investigation found the actions of the officer who smashed the driver's window and pepper sprayed the driver to be reasonable and proportionate, but the actions of the officer who attempted to smash the windscreen were unnecessary.
Police have taken action to deal with the shortcomings identified.
The Authority agrees with the Police findings and remedial action taken.
IPCA: 19-1771