The police used unjustified and excessive force when breaking up an Auckland party during which a teenager's teeth were knocked out, the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has found.
Ella Eketone, who was 15 at the time, lost two front teeth and suffered facial injuries after being knocked to the ground by a police officer at a party in Howick in February 2013.
At the time, 35 police officers were trying to clear the party of about 150 people.
An IPCA report on the case was released this morning and said the police did not have grounds to suspect that removing partygoers from the property would prevent an emergency. It also said Ms Eketone did not pose a risk to the officers.