28 Oct 2016

286 complaints against police upheld this year

7:58 am on 28 October 2016

There have been 286 complaints against police officers upheld so far this year, including dangerous driving, violence, unlawful searches and privacy breaches.

Close up of a police officer at an incident on a residential street. 6 July 2016.

Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

That was less than 10 percent of the 2960 allegations of misconduct which have been made against non-sworn and sworn police staff, in relation to just over 2000 incidents.

The most complaints upheld related to service failure, failing to investigate, unacceptable attitude and language, and use of force on duty.

Six complaints of off-duty violence were upheld, along with six of unauthorised use of the police database, and 13 relating to breach of privacy.

Wellington Police received the highest number of complaints, with 252 laid against 219 officers.

Waitemata was second, followed by Canterbury.

Previously, police only released information on complaints on request or under the Official Information Act.

However, the organisation was moving towards quarterly releases of the information, starting this year.

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