Jo Falkner is concerned a police officer who slapped her daughter has returned to their rural Tararua town.

The mother of a teenage girl who was slapped by a police officer has slammed the way police handled the investigation into his actions.

Pahiatua Constable Ben Luders​ slapped Jo Falkner's daughter around the back of the head with an open hand during a Cactus youth programme at Tararua College in June.

The 15-year-old girl, who Stuff has chosen not to name, was accused of mocking Luders during an early morning exercise. The impact shunted her forward about one metre.

Witnesses later denied the officer's claims the slap was provoked.

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The following day, Luders visited Falkner's home to discuss the incident and criticised her daughter's behaviour. He claimed any complaint must be lodged with him, Falkner said.

Luders was handed a formal warning and transferred to the Dannevirke police station while the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) investigated the assault.

Falkner asked police in June to permanently reassign Luders, but was shocked when Pahiatua's head officer informed her he had returned last week.

She and her daughter work at New World, the town's only supermarket, and both feared they might bump into him.

WARWICK SMITH/STUFF The incident occurred during a Cactus youth programme at Tararua College in Pahiatua.

"I want this man out of my community. I will do everything I can to stop him working here," Falkner said.

"But, mostly, I want my daughter to feel safe. Especially in the places she should feel most protected, her school, her home and her workplace."

The girl said the impact took her by surprise and she was shocked when Luders initially dismissed it as nothing happened. Another police officer later apologised, she said.

In a statement, Central District Superintendent Chris de Wattignar said police had conducted both a criminal and employment investigation into the assault.

He did not explain why Luders had been returned to Pahiatua or whether police would deploy him elsewhere in the future.

"We treat any allegations relating to misconduct of police officers extremely seriously," de Wattignar said.

"The officer was issued with a formal written warning as a result of the criminal investigation. The incident is also currently being reviewed as part of the employment investigation."

The IPCA has refused to comment, saying it was an employment matter.

DAVID UNWIN/STUFF Central District Superintendent Chris de Wattignar said two police investigations had been opened.

Falkner said when Luders visited her home, he told her he regretted his actions.

He said the teenager was arrogant and disrespectful to other Cactus staff and children.

He said he had considered kicking her out of the programme on several occasions, Falkner said.

"He said her attitude at school is terrible and she is on a slippery slope downward."

Following the incident, both Luders and the girl were removed from the programme and she was unable to attend the graduation day.

Just a few months earlier, she had won the overall excellence award at a Blue Light Leadership Course held at Taupō.

The residential programme is run by police and the Defence Force for teenagers who want to develop as leaders.

The camp coordinator said she was the top student and had showed maturity, intuition and was respectful to staff.