Police teen chase slammed

"We're becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of accountability by family members and caregivers." Police Inspector Bruce O'Brien

Police have been heavily criticised for their pursuit of a teenaged driver.

In August last year Auckland police engaged in a 20-minute pursuit of a stolen Mazda containing three young people who were suspects in a series of crimes.

The 16-year-old driver swerved onto the wrong side of the road, including on the motorway, and turned off the car’s headlights. The group of teenagers filmed themselves during the chase, with a copy posted to Facebook.

Police abandoned the pursuit several times and it came to an end after road spikes were used on three occasions to deflate the car’s tyres.

In its report into the incident the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) said two officers repeatedly disregarded police fleeing driver policy and the directions of the pursuit controller. Chairman Sir David Carruthers said the pursuit included high-risk factors that had led other pursuits to end in tragedy.

‘‘The two officers knew that a young person was behind the wheel and was driving in an increasingly dangerous manner on public roads to try to avoid apprehension. In addition, it was dark, the Mazda had a punctured tyre and there were other young people in the car. Despite this, the two officers did not comply with the fleeing driver policy.

‘‘They should have abandoned the pursuit earlier than they did, and they should not have recommenced the pursuit after they had abandoned it. They also disregarded the pursuit controller’s explicit instruction not to re-engage.’’

The pursuit controller attempted to control the pursuit but did not have a complete understanding of its context, the identity of the offender or the actions of the two officers. Despite this the controller should have demonstrated more assertive command, Carruthers said.

Counties Manukau district commander Superintendent John Tims accepted the findings. ‘‘In this situation, and while the two initial officers were justified in the initial pursuit, a number of subsequent actions by staff did not comply with police’s fleeing driver policy.’’

An internal review had been completed, resulting in changes to the fleeing driver policy and action was taken against a number of officers involved.

‘‘We’re confident the changes provide further support for all staff in a fleeing driver situation, and provides them with the appropriate guidance to make the right decisions under the extraordinary pressure involved in these situations.’’

At the time of the incident police said they were concerned with a rise in crime committed by young people.

Inspector Bruce O’Brien, area prevention manager for Counties Manukau, said young criminal groups were using social media to arrange to steal a convoy of cars and committing crime.

‘‘We’re becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of accountability by family members and caregivers.’’