The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has criticised an officer who drove the wrong way up a one-way street and collided with a fleeing car.
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In December 2017, the police were forced to abandon the pursuit of a Subaru on the motorway near central Auckland.
Shortly after this, the Subaru exited the motorway before running a red light and driving up Hobson St near the central police station.
Two officers leaving the station to locate the Subaru turned on to the one-way street and collided with the car.
The IPCA has found this was a breach of the Police Fleeing Driver Policy because officers are not allowed to drive around an area for a vehicle once a pursuit is abandoned.
It also found the officer should not have driven up Hobson St.
Auckland City District Commander Superintendent Karyn Malthus acknowledged that the officer breached policy.
"While the officer had really good intentions to help stop a driver who was putting other people at risk, he should not have briefly driven the wrong way down Hobson St," she said.
"Police discussed this with the officer involved at the time and the findings from the IPCA have been relayed to him."