Police response to Gisborne IPCA report

Police staff in Gisborne have undertaken refresher driver training after an Independant Police Conduct Authority report into a fatal crash in the area last year.

Dylan Kingi, 28, Peter Bunyan, 27, and Holly Gunn, 25, were killed when the car they were in crashed on Nelson Rd, Gisborne in July last year. Mr Kingi was the driver of the vehicle, which crashed after police lost sight of it during a pursuit.

Mr Kingi recorded an excess breath alcohol reading of 210 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood. The legal limit is 80mg. He had four previous convictions for drink-driving. He was also driving without a licence. The inquest into the three deaths is yet to be held by the coroner.

Eastern District Commander Superintendent Sam Hoyle said police accepted the authority's findings and had already reinforced to staff police policy around fleeing drivers.

"The officer involved in the incident has undergone remedial training and has been recertified as a "gold" licensed driver under the Professional Police Driving Programme (PPDP). A PPDP panel has reviewed the officer's actions during this incident and reminded him of his responsibilities under the police urgent duty driving and fleeing driver policies.

"He is well aware now of his responsibilities should such an event occur again," Mr Hoyle said.

All Road Policing staff had been made aware of the need for absolute compliance around police policy on fleeing drivers and they were expected to adhere to all aspects of the policy and procedure without exception.

'I know my staff will be extra vigilant in any future pursuits they undertake. We will continue to review every crash where a fleeing driver has been involved as per our protocols," he said.

Regarding the authority's references to the Communications Centre, Mr Hoyle said the centres were currently reviewing their practices for handing control of fleeing driver incidents from one supervisor to another.

"The dispatcher involved in this incident has undergone refresher training in the requirements of the fleeing driver policy and the pursuit controller has been reminded of the policy's abandonment procedures," Mr Hoyle said.

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