Whangarei police have paid out $5000 compensation to a man they wrongfully arrested and held in the cells at the station after an alleged breach of a protection order.
Northland police have admitted they were in the wrong, have apologised and this week paid out $5000 to the Whangarei father.
The man hoped as a result of the case police would improve on their application and understanding of protection orders.
"I'm not anti-police but this was a mistake. I hope they are just a bit more careful and understand the ramifications of arresting someone unlawfully," he said.
Investigations revealed that after the arrest in March last year the protection order, involving his former partner, had not actually been served and the man was immediately released, after spending about an hour-and-a-half at Whangarei station.