Police response to IPCA report - Hamilton

Please Attribute to Waikato District Commander, Superintendent Bruce Bird:

Police accept the findings of a report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority regarding the use of force when arresting a man outside a Hamilton nightclub in April 2015.

The man received an injury to his hand while he was being loaded into a Police van.

The Authority’s report finds that Police were justified in making the arrest and did not use excessive force.

The IPCA notes that this was a difficult situation in which Police had to load an intoxicated and uncooperative prisoner into a police van.

The Authority finds that the man lost his balance while he was being loaded in the van, and unknown to the officers, his hand was accidently injured when the van door was being closed.

Police accept however that one officer involved used a tactic to control the man which was not approved, and should not have been used. Police accept the findings that a Police Officer did not act within the values of NZ Police when communicating with the man several weeks later.

These are difficult and challenging incidents to deal with.

The subsequent debrief have made our staff aware of other courses of action that can be considered in such circumstances.

Police are unable due to employment reasons outline any specifics of action taken.

Police have also reviewed the use of this particular type of prisoner transport van, which concluded that the vehicle was fit for purpose.

ENDS

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