A report released today by the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found allegations of a delay in a poaching investigation in the Southern District were "unfounded". The IPCA also investigated a perceived conflict of interest when the officer in charge referred the landowner to a group of hunters to help prevent further poaching activity. A second officer not involved in the investigation had also emailed the landowner from his Police email account, police said. The IPCA found that this email was inappropriate and resulted in a perceived conflict of interest. “The officer sent this email with the best of intentions but we acknowledge that this created a perceived conflict of interest and the officer has been spoken with,” Insp Gray said.

Source: Otago Daily Times November 04, 2019 22:07 UTC