ACC beneficiary sues police

File photo / Alan Gibson

A Dunedin ACC claimant is suing police and a private investigator over what he claims was an "unlawful and unreasonable" search of his home.

Bruce Van Essen is claiming compensation and damages.

His claim was prompted by a September 2006 search of his home by former senior Dunedin detective, turned private investigator, Peter Gibbons, The Otago Daily Times reported.

Mr Gibbons had been engaged by ACC to investigate possible fraud.

Disputes over how the search warrant was obtained and how the search was conducted sparked an Independent Police Conduct Authority report in 2008.

The report was critical of the Dunedin police's report on the search, saying it was not to an "acceptable professional standard" and did not properly manage an "apparent conflict of interest" in the case.

However, the authority found no misconduct by Dunedin police and said they did not act illegally.

But, it also said any apparent conflict of interest, if not properly managed, would "undermine public trust and confidence in police work".

- NZPA