Police acknowledge IPCA report into self-harm incidents in Counties Manukau

Attribute to Superintendent Jill Rogers, District Commander for Counties Manukau:

Police acknowledge the findings from the IPCA report into two self-harm incidents involving the same female, which took place in the Counties Manukau Police District Custody Unit in 2017.

The first incident occurred on 24th October 2017 after the female was arrested for breaching her bail conditions.

A second incident took place on 18th November 2017 after the intoxicated female was again arrested for breaching her bail conditions and brought back to the custody unit.

The IPCA report found Police failed to appropriately receive, evaluate and monitor the female while she was in Police custody.

Superintendent Jill Rogers says Police accept the report’s findings.

“In these two instances we clearly did not provide the duty of care that is expected when monitoring people being held in our custody unit, particularly those individuals identified as being at-risk.

“This is obviously disappointing and we acknowledge that there were several shortcomings identified by the police staff involved in these two incidents.

“We have investigated this matter and identified learnings where we can improve our practices.

“Since this incident we have notified the IPCA that we are subsequently in the process of implementing a plan to improve the way staff evaluate and monitor individuals held in our custody unit in order to prevent this from happening again,” says Superintendent Rogers.

ENDS

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