High speed by an officer following a pursuit

13 May 2019

The Authority oversaw a Police investigation into the manner of driving by an officer following an abandoned pursuit in Auckland City on 11 August 2017.

The pursuit was abandoned as the Police Helicopter (Eagle) was able to monitor the fleeing driver. However, the officer continued to drive at speed (over twice the posted speed zone of 80km/hr) as he wanted to get into a position where he could lay road spikes.

The Police conducted an employment investigation which found that the officer drove in excess of 160kph in a 80kph area and that he continued to pursue when the risks outweighed the known offending by the fleeing driver. The officer received an appropriate disciplinary outcome.

The Authority was of the view that a criminal investigation should have been undertaken immediately by Police and that in the circumstances of this case, there was a reasonable prospect of conviction for dangerous driving. The Authority did not agree with the Police decision to deal with the matter as it did and advised Police that in the Authority's view the officer should have been charged.