Police are cracking down on officers engaging in car chases where the risk of harm doesn't justify the pursuit. But they say fleeing drivers will still be held to account, despite the revision to its policy.
Photo: RNZ / Alexander Robertson
The rethink means officers are only able to start a chase if the need to catch the driver or passengers outweighs the risk or harm created by the pursuit.
It followed a joint review with the Independent Police Conduct Authority last year, which found that while the policy was sound, it wasn't being used consistently or as it should be.
"This is just about tweaking and ensuring a consistent approach across the country," said Assistant Commissioner, Sandra Venables.
"So we have always said that we prefer our officers to undertake enquiries or investigations rather than pursue a fleeing driver
"So that's what we're focused on in regards to policy, but also in regard to our training."
Venables said the slight rewording better articulated that intent, so that all officers had the opportunity to apply it consistently.
The change would not allow fleeing drivers to go un-punished, she said, rather it would ensure the safety for anyone put at risk by car chases.
"We still want to hold these drivers to account, but we want our operation of our business, our part of this, to be undertaken in a really safe manner.
"It's safety first, we have to think of all road users, our staff, the public and even the people that are in the vehicle... probably not even from their own choice.
"They don't need to be involved in something that could put them at risk. It's about safety."
The revision has been welcomed by the Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft, who has long called for a re-think of chases involving young drivers specifically.
"I'm very pleased, I think it's constructive, it's a step in the right direction, it will save lives and I'm glad it's coming just before the holiday season..."
"We know when there are children or young people driving in the car, they can act in the most fool-hardy, reckless and irresponsible way."
"Sometimes it's the very thrill of the chase that's desired..."
Judge Becroft said he would still like to see a total ban on car chases involving young drivers or passengers, unless it was a matter of life and death or very grave.
That would be in line with international best practice, he said, and policies such as Queensland, where police are only allowed to pursue under serious circumstances.
"It's not cowardly, it's not a soft option to pull back. It's the right thing to do in most cases, and it will save lives."
The tweaked policy is being criticised by National's spokesperson for police, Simeon Brown.
In a statement he said the change hampered officers ability to give chase.
"While it is important to acknowledge the risk that police pursuits pose, this new policy will embolden criminals who now know that officers can't give chase,"
"Our frontline police need all the tools to do their job."
Brown called on the government to look at seriously increasing the penalties for fleeing an officer, and said they should fund police to invest in apprehension tools.
The new police policy now says: "a pursuit is only justified when the threat posed by the vehicle occupants(s) prior to the pursuit commencing, and the necessity to immediately apprehend the driver and/or passenger(s), outweighs the risk of harm created by the pursuit."
Between 2009 and 2018, 67 people died during police pursuits.