The Authority received a complaint from a person forbidden to drive due to driving with an expired NZ licence and an invalid Australian one. She complained the officers took a photo of her and didn’t explain why, and because this occurred during the level 4 covid lockdown, she was not able to get a licence due to the closure of licencing services.
When prompted by the Authority, Police provided the complainant with a detailed explanation about why she was forbidden to drive and why a photo was taken. They also gave her advice about getting her restricted licence and made appropriate social service referrals.
Police also recognised the hardship caused by forbidding her to drive in the middle of a level 4 covid lockdown, so they took her and her family a food parcel.
IPCA: 21-9005