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A Counties Manukau police officer threw away suspected cannabis and drug paraphernalia because he “could not be bothered” completing the required paperwork, the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found.
The authority said it oversaw a Police investigation into allegations the officer improperly disposed of a large bag of suspected cannabis and failed to follow Police procedures after searching a vehicle believed to have been stolen.
The officer took custody of the driver and seized a large bag containing a green substance believed to be cannabis, along with a second bag containing drug paraphernalia. He issued the driver with a charge and summons for cannabis possession before taking them home.
Weeks later, a supervising officer noticed the required paperwork had not been completed.
When questioned, the officer claimed he had become busy with another arrest that night and had thrown the seized cannabis and other items into a skip bin at the police station. He also said he had not completed the court summons because the driver had left New Zealand.
However, Police found there was no record of the officer making another arrest that night and established the driver was still in New Zealand.
The subsequent Police investigation found the officer’s explanation was untrue and concluded he disposed of the evidence because he did not want to complete the paperwork.
Police charged the officer with wilfully perverting the course of justice, but the charge was later withdrawn after prosecutors were unable to prove his actions were intended to interfere with the administration of justice rather than being the result of laziness.
Police later carried out an employment investigation, finding the officer had breached both the Police Code of Conduct and Police policy.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority said it was satisfied with the Police investigation and agreed with the outcome.
