Counties Manukau Police accept the findings of an Independent Police Conduct Authority report released today regarding an incident in Mangere on 7 November 2013.
Police were initially called to arrest a man for a breach of home detention conditions, but the situation quickly turned violent and one of the men at the address deliberately presented what looked like a long-barrelled firearm at Police.
In response, the Authority found an officer was justified in shooting at the man, though the shot missed and no one was injured. The Authority found there were no breaches of Police policy in the officers’ actions, or during the arrest of the man. Deployment of the Armed Offenders Squad and use of force by other officers at the scene was also justified in the circumstances.
Counties Manukau District Commander John Tims says Police accept the Authority's findings and acknowledge we should have more clearly explained to the two women who were also at the address, that they were not being detained.
“Violent situations like this where there is a significant risk to our staff and the public are some of the most challenging we have to deal with. In this case, officers were threatened with weapons and one was assaulted, though we accept we should have been clearer in our communication with the two women after the incident,” says Superintendent Tims. “Moving forward, Police will take the learnings from this incident on board which will help inform future responses to these events.”
As a result of the incident one man from the address pleaded guilty to a Breach of Home Detention Conditions, Escaping Custody and Assaulting Police while another man was convicted of Using an Imitation Firearm to Prevent Arrest.
ENDS
Issued by Shelley Nahr, Counties Manukau, Communications Manager
09 263 2702 / 021 595 562