IPCA rules on police actions

A REPORT released yesterday by the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found allegations of a delay in a poaching investigation in the Southern district were ‘‘unfounded’’.

The IPCA also investigated a perceived conflict of interest when the officer in charge referred the landowner to a group of hunters to help prevent further poaching.

‘‘The officer had acted reasonably and that the perceived conflict of interest was a result of the nature of the officer’s role as a solecharge constable in a rural community,’’ the report said.

‘‘The officer involved came up with a practical solution to help prevent further suspicious activity on this landowner’s property, which is something he often does in his small rural community,’’ Otago Coastal Area commander Inspector Matenga Gray said.

A second officer not involved in the investigation had also emailed the landowner from his police email account, police said.

The IPCA found that this email was inappropriate and resulted in a perceived conflict of interest.

‘‘The officer sent this email with the best of intentions but we acknowledge that this created a perceived conflict of interest and the officer has been spoken with,’’ Insp Gray said.

‘‘We will take learnings from this as an organisation. It is a reminder of how important it is to avoid conflicts of interest, whether they are perceived or actual.’’