Northland's top cop has apologised to the father of a man who was left paralysed while in police custody.
Superintendent Russell Le Prou met with Ray Legg on Tuesday following the release of the Independent Police Conduct Authority report which found while police actions were reasonable and complied with the law in most respects, one officer failed to fulfil his duty of care to Shane Legg.
Shane Legg, 28, was arrested in April last year after he led police on a high-speed pursuit. As he was climbing a fence he fell and suffered a serious neck injury that left him paralysed.
In the three-hour meeting held in a conference room at a Whangarei motel Mr Le Prou confirmed he offered an apology on behalf of police.
"The officer in question wished he could take back what happened that night. It was an error of judgment, but not intentional," Mr Le Prou said.