Henderson Police station assault allegations

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has confirmed media reports that it is investigating allegations of assault by police officers at the Henderson Police station.

The allegations were referred to the IPCA by Police National Headquarters.

Authority Chair, Justice Lowell Goddard, accompanied by an IPCA investigator and IPCA legal analyst, visited the Police station on 18 March to conduct a cell inspection and to interview senior officers.

“As soon as the allegations came to my attention I visited the Henderson station, and met the Waitemata District Commander, the Henderson Area Commander, and a Police Professional Standards officer. I also inspected the cellblock where an assault is alleged to have occurred,” said Justice Goddard.

The IPCA expects shortly to finalise its terms of reference for the inquiry. It is approaching the issue across two fronts:

• Under the Independent Police Conduct Authority Act 1988, the Authority receives and investigates complaints alleging misconduct or neglect of duty by any member of Police, and incidents in which a member of Police appears to have caused serious bodily harm;
• Under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989, the IPCA is a designated National Preventive Mechanism. It monitors conditions of detention and treatment of detainees in Police custody. This responsibility fulfills New Zealand’s United Nations obligations under the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).

ENDS

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