File photoA police employee misused a police vehicle by taking it to go camping with a friend, despite it being booked for a search and rescue exercise, the police watchdog has revealed. The allegation was that a Christchurch police employee used a police vehicle for "personal use, knowingly impacting a police search and rescue exercise". "The employee signed out an unmarked police van, overriding an earlier booking for a multi-agency search and rescue exercise. He then used the van to take a civilian friend on an overnight fishing and camping trip. "In a no camping, no fishing area after a gas cooker caught fire at the back of the van and caused an explosion.

Source: Otago Daily Times April 02, 2026 19:53 UTC