Reports on independent investigations 2025

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that the force used by a Police sergeant and a custody officer to restrain a detainee within the Auckland Custody Unit on 18 January 2022 was unjustified.

Public Report (PDF 541 KB) Media Statement

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that Police at Auckland on 28 April 2023 were justified in detaining a man although used the wrong power of arrest.

On 4 November 2024, a Police officer was trying to move an aggressive and intoxicated man from the Auckland City Mission in Grafton. The man refused to leave despite the officer's requests, so the officer placed a hand on his shoulder to guide him along. The man fell, hitting his head on the tarmac surface of the ground. Unfortunately, he was seriously injured and later died in hospital.

Public Report (PDF 334 KB) Media Statement

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that Police largely acted within their powers when dealing with a group of young men who were being disorderly in Beachlands on 11 November 2023. However, Police failed to follow process when issuing formal warnings.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority received four complaints concerning Wellington Police officers obtaining a warrant and seizing vehicles for unpaid fines. In three of the four cases, officers lacked understanding of what is required when executing the warrants and failed to comply with legal requirements, thereby making the vehicle seizures unlawful.

Public Report (PDF 714 KB) Media Statement

On 23 May 2024, Police responded to a reported rubbish fire on a vacant property in Westgate, Waitakere. Whilst at the scene, they arrested a man whom they mistakenly believed had started the fire. Our investigation concluded that this belief, although mistaken, was a reasonable one however the arrest itself was unlawful because the officers did not have good cause to suspect that he had lit the fire.

Public Summary Report (PDF 180 KB)

The IPCA has found that a custody officer used unjustified force upon a male prisoner in the Counties Manukau Custody Unit.