A man has died while in police custody in Auckland this morning, prompting a critical incident investigation and an immediate notification to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).
Acting Auckland City District Commander, Inspector Grant Tetzlaff, stated that police first responded to 'several reports relating to a disorder' in the Mt Roskill area at about 9:40 am on Wednesday.
A police unit was dispatched to Morrie Laing Avenue, where they located and arrested a man 'without incident'. He was then taken to the Auckland District Custody Unit.
Inspector Tetzlaff said that while at the custody unit, the man collapsed. An ambulance was called and first aid was administered by police staff, but he was pronounced dead after paramedics arrived. The cause of the collapse has not been released.
Investigations underway
Police have launched a critical incident investigation into the man's death, which will examine the full sequence of events from the initial callout in Mt Roskill to the man's collapse and death at the custody facility. Such investigations are standard procedure for serious incidents involving police action, particularly when a person dies in custody.
As required by law, police have also notified the Independent Police Conduct Authority. The IPCA is an independent body that investigates complaints against the police and incidents involving death or serious harm. Its involvement ensures public confidence that the circumstances of the death will be subject to external and impartial scrutiny.
The authority will likely conduct its own independent investigation into the incident, running parallel to the police's internal inquiry. This process involves reviewing all evidence, including custody suite footage, witness statements, and police reports, to determine whether any officer's conduct contributed to the death or if police policies were followed correctly.
First aid has been provided, but sadly the man was confirmed deceased after ambulance staff arrived on scene.
Support for family and staff
Police have since identified the man and notified his next of kin. In his statement, Inspector Tetzlaff confirmed that support is being provided to the grieving family.
He also noted that support systems have been activated for the police officers and staff involved in the incident. Deaths in custody can be traumatic and stressful events for all parties, including the first responders who administered aid.
The process of multiple investigations and potential coronial inquiries can be lengthy. Historically, such events have led to reviews of police procedures and training, particularly concerning the health assessment of individuals upon their arrival at custody units. This incident follows other calls for reviews of how law enforcement handles crises, including the push for new pandemic modelling approaches after a Royal Commission report.
A community in shock
The initial disorder occurred on Morrie Laing Avenue, a residential street in Mt Roskill, a diverse suburb in central Auckland. The nature of the disorder that prompted the police response has not yet been detailed.
The Auckland District Custody Unit, where the man died, is a centralised facility that processes and holds individuals arrested across the city. The unit is equipped with medical facilities, and staff are trained in first aid, but the sudden nature of the man's collapse will be a key focus of the investigation.
The findings of both the police's critical incident investigation and the IPCA's independent inquiry will eventually be made public, though this process can take many months or even years. A coroner's inquest is also likely to follow to formally determine the cause of death.
Inspector Tetzlaff confirmed police will continue to work with the IPCA and provide all necessary information as the investigation proceeds.
