Media releases 2026

 The Authority received four complaints from parents and guardians about Police placing their children or young people in the care of others without their consent. As the complaints raised similar issues, we decided to investigate them together. We will not be publishing a full report but have prepared a detailed media statement setting out our findings and recommendations. We expected Police would benefit from clearer guidance when they come across unaccompanied children and young people in situations where specific legislation does not apply, and we have made recommendations to this effect.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that failures by Police led to a pursuit in Rotorua on 31 October 2024. The pursuit ended in a crash where the 15-year-old fleeing driver died.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that officers were not justified in following two stolen cars at speed in wet and dark conditions in Christchurch in 2023. The incident ended with the second car colliding with a train. The 15-year-old driver and sole occupant of the second car was not injured, but the train driver suffered a spinal injury.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that Police were justified in using Tasers, a Police dog and head strikes to arrest a man who they believed had ready access to a firearm in Tiniroto, Hawke’s Bay. The man suffered a serious injury but survived.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that there were Police failings in the care of a man who self-harmed while in Police custody at the Auckland Custody Unit on 6 October 2023.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that a Police officer was unjustified in stopping a car, and using subsequent force, on a woman who gave him the ‘thumbs down’ gesture while driving past him in Auckland, on the morning of 22 December 2022.