Girl, 5, caught in pepper spray

Desharna Soloman was caught up when police became involved in a domestic incident outside a relative's house. Picture / Chris Skelton

A police inquiry has been launched after a 5-year-old girl was affected by pepper spray in what is the latest incident involving claims of excessive police force.

Desharna Solomon, of Auckland's New Lynn, was left in agony after police responded to an early-morning 111 call following a domestic dispute involving the girl's uncle.

During the melee between police and family members outside the house Desharna came in contact with pepper spray residue. Police claim only one person was sprayed but family members strongly dispute that, saying three were sprayed in the face - including two pregnant women.

Yesterday afternoon, Dr Shamnika Rupasinge, of the Avondale Family Health Centre, examined Desharna and said her inflamed eyes were consistent with being sprayed. He gave her eye drops to relieve the pain.

This latest incident comes just two months after an inquiry was launched into a West Auckland officer who was videotaped pepper-spraying a handcuffed man, lying on his back.

Inspector Pieter Roozendaal last night confirmed pepper spray had been used at the property, but said the account of an officer who was present did not tally with the family's version of events.

Mr Roozendaal claimed just one person, a woman, had been pepper-sprayed and strongly rejected any suggestion that Desharna had been sprayed. "Police do not use pepper spray on children and did not do so on this occasion."

Mr Roozendaal said he was told that Desharna moved forward into the area where spray was used and might have been affected by residual spray. A man and woman were arrested.

The family have rejected the police version of events, and say they intend laying a formal complaint with the Police Complaints Authority.

The incident occurred when police were called by Desharna's grandmother Rebecca Te Anini about 3am yesterday. There had been a party at the house and Desharna's uncle, James Solomon, and his partner, Jamie-Lee Rawiri, were arguing.

The call broke the party up and by the time two officers showed up only family members were left.

Family members said they were watching Mr Solomon being arrested when Desharna's aunt, Sammy Ryan, uncle, Shannon Solomon, and Rawiri, were sprayed by police outside the house. Ms Ryan and Ms Rawiri are pregnant.

The spray also hit Desharna, who had followed the family outside.

"They didn't give us any warning," said Shannon Solomon. "He was spraying everywhere. He was going shhhh, shhhh, shhhh to get us back."

Ms Ryan said Desharna was extremely distressed after being hit by the spray.

"She started screaming 'Auntie... I can't see.' I could hear her crying but I couldn't see her. I was crawling around trying to find her."

According to Ms Ryan, the officer who used the pepper spray was reprimanded by his colleague for going too far. "The other cop was yelling 'you're supposed to get two people not 10'," said Ms Ryan. Police did not comment on this allegation.

Ms Ryan said the officer told her "he only aimed at three people" and didn't mean to hit Desharna.

Mrs Te Anini said: "I never thought they would use the pepper spray. I thought they only did it in really bad cases. This wasn't that bad."

Family friend Dale Renata, who turned up at the house after the spraying, said he asked a police officer how Desharna had been hit by the spray. "He hesitated for about three seconds and then just said 'overspray'."

It took at least half an hour before police brought spray to clear the pepper out of Desharna's eyes. But Ms Ryan said it did not work.

National's law and order spokesman Simon Power said he wanted an explanation as to how a child could be exposed to pepper spray.

"Someone has a lot of explaining to do. I think [Police Minister] Annette King owes the public of New Zealand an answer to this and soon."

Police Association spokesman Greg O'Connor said he had checked out the incident and believed use of the spray was "fully justified".