Good afternoon,

As you are aware, while the IPCA is tasked with investigating police misconduct, they have no authority to prosecute- instead, cases of police misconduct are referred back to New Zealand Police to decide whether to prosecute.

Under what circumstances would Crown Law and the Solicitor General review the decisions of Police not to charge Police officers who have been found to have engaged in misconduct, when Police choose not to do so?

Kind regards,
Richard Wang

Dear Peter,

Thanks- so essentially, regardless of the outcomes of IPCA investigations, whether or not charges are laid in the event of police misconduct remains entirely within the discretion of New Zealand Police, who may or may not decide to request advice from Crown Law that they may or may not disregard.

Yours sincerely,
Richard Wang