Media releases 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.

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 12 June 2025 Coroner Ho issued a judgment concerning the death of three-year-old Lachlan Jones in January 2019. In the course of his judgment the Coroner criticised aspects of the Police’s two inquiries into the incident, and directed Police to conduct a further (third) inquiry.

The Authority has been approached by various media organisations and asked what, if any, steps it is proposing to take.  This statement is intended to clarify the Authority's position.

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.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has completed a review of the Police’s use of the Complex Investigation Phased Engagement Model (CIPEM) interviewing method and found that, although it was a laudable attempt to enhance officers’ investigative interviewing skills, its implementation fell short in several respects.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is investigating allegations of misconduct by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, following a complaint from a member of the public.

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.

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