The police watchdog has found officers were justified in using force to arrest a drunk 16-year-old girl who fell and cut her head on gravel while resisting arrest.
Photo: RNZ / Richard Tindiller
The teenager was a back seat passenger in a car which was stolen from Manurewa last year 2019.
After a lengthy police chase, the car was finally stopped with road spikes.
The girl accused an officer of pulling her hair through the car window and said she was dragged from the car and deliberately thrown to the ground.
However, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found the teenager had to be forcibly removed from the car, and the force used was necessary.
Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan said force was required at times to ensure a person could be safely arrested.
She said the officers in this situation were just doing their job.