Police have been judged to have used unnecessary force during a pursuit in Greymouth

The Independent Police Conduct Authority says using a Police dog to apprehend a man in May 2020 was unjustified.

Officers pursued a vehicle for 32 minutes in a rural area after reports of a driver swerving on the road.

A handler deployed their dog to catch the driver.

Authority Chair Judge Colin Doherty says the offending didn't warrant the Police dog being ordered to bite - and the officer had other options.