[ad_1]
Christel Yardley / Stuff
A police officer assaulted a man while he was detained in police cells. (File photo)
A police employee hit a prisoner in the face “numerous times” and grabbed him by the neck, but he has managed to keep his job.
The Independent Authority for Police Conduct, which oversaw a police investigation into the complaint, said the incident occurred in May 2019 in Auckland’s Waitematā police district, which includes West Auckland, North Shore and Rodney.
The authority said that a police employee assaulted a man who was being held in police cells.
The incident occurred while the employee was trying to fingerprint the detainee, who was resisting, according to a report released Wednesday.
READ MORE:
* Photos officers took during search are ‘abuse of power’, says police watchdog
* Auckland police beat a man during a road search, according to IPCA
* Police and corrections do not punish inmates who attack prison staff, says union
“The employee was provoked and responded by hitting the man in the face several times and grabbing him by the neck.”
STENT / KEVIN THINGS
The Independent Authority for Police Conduct believes he is being misunderstood by media reports. (Video first published in December 2017)
The IPCA said the employee was charged with assault. He pleaded guilty and was released without conviction.
An employment process conducted by the police determined that the employee’s actions were not justified.
“The authority accepts the findings and the result of the police investigations.”
Waitematā District Commander Superintendent Naila Hassan said that criminal and labor investigations were conducted after the incident.
“While we cannot comment on the specifics of labor matters, we can say that the employee is still a member of the police.”
