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Four police officers are under investigation over the alleged beating and pepper spraying of a prisoner in the Whakatane police cells.
It is understood the officers involved are two sergeants, a senior constable and a constable. They were stood down on full pay on Monday pending the investigations.
The Herald has been told that two officers allegedly beat the prisoner and a third pepper-sprayed him after he was arrested last week for driving while disqualified.
The officers have been stood down while two investigations are carried out - one by a team of police from outside the area and another by the Police Complaints Authority.
The investigations were launched after the man complained to police.
The Police Complaints Authority was notified this week.
Authority head Judge Ian Borrin said he could not recall an incident in which that number of police had been stood down.
Police national headquarters in Wellington said an internal inquiry had been launched.
A spokesman said the four officers were stood down "after allegations that a prisoner was subjected to undue force while being held by Whakatane police".
The Bay of Plenty District Commander, Superintendent Gary Smith, would not reveal details of the alleged assault but understood the man's injuries were "relatively minor".
"He was offered medical attention while he was in police custody but it was declined."
A police doctor was called but not an ambulance, he said. "Part of our inquiries will be looking into the injuries and the care provided.
"Any [alleged] assault on a person in custody, we take seriously."
Superintendent Stuart Wildon, national manager of professional standards, said a team of four would carry out the police inquiry.
Judge Borrin said the information received by the authority did not extend to the officers' ranks or other details, or details of the alleged assault.
"We've been told there's an alleged incident in the police station and at this stage that is all that is known by us."
But he said the number of officers stood down was unusual.
Judge Borrin said the authority's inquiry was at the preliminary stage but that it would carry out its own investigation and liaise with officers carrying out the police inquiry.
Mr Smith said the possible existence of a culture of abuse at Whakatane would also form part of the inquiry but it seemed unlikely.
"I can't remember the last time we needed to stand a staff member down in Whakatane for an incident or an allegation like this."
