Finding: New Zealand Police Breached Policy During Incident Ending in Train Collision

New Zealand Police have acknowledged findings from the Independent Police Conduct Authority that three Christchurch officers acted outside policy during an October 2023 incident involving stolen vehicles, which ended when one car was struck by a train, injuring the train driver.

The IPCA found officers were justified in trying to monitor and stop the fleeing vehicles, but said several tactical decisions — including following at speed without lights and sirens, driving through an intersection against a red light and deploying road spikes without adequate cover — created unnecessary risks. Police said staff have since undergone additional training around urgent-duty driving and speed-related risk management.

The incident began at about 3.55 a.m. on Oct. 17, 2023, when an officer, identified in the report as Officer A, saw two stolen vehicles traveling together in Upper Riccarton. After spotting the police, the drivers turned off their headlights and sped away. Officer A did not initiate a formal pursuit but turned around and accelerated after the vehicles without activating emergency lights or sirens.

The authority agreed that a pursuit was not justified after the cars mounted a footpath and drove around bollards to enter another street. However, it found Officer A’s decision to follow the vehicles at speed without lights and sirens was unsafe and unjustified.

A second officer, Officer B, later followed the vehicles from a distance to provide radio updates for responding units. The IPCA found the officer acted reasonably until the officer drove through a red light at the Wharenui Road intersection and then accelerated beyond the speed limit, without formally initiating a pursuit under police policy.

The authority also reviewed the actions of Officer D, who deployed tire deflation devices in an attempt to stop the fleeing drivers. While the IPCA found the use of road spikes was justified, it said the deployment location lacked adequate protective cover and breached safety policy.

Canterbury District Commander Superintendent Tony Hill said police have a duty of care to protect the public in all situations. Staff have undergone additional training regarding traveling at any speed above the speed limit, and even when not in a pursuit, it should be treated with the same risk management, Hill said.

Hill also acknowledged the train driver, who suffered spinal injuries when the train collided with one of the stolen vehicles.