The Police watchdog has found an officer used unjustified and unnecessary force to arrest a teenage girl

The then 17-year-old was left with a broken collarbone, after being forced to the ground during an arrest, when she crashed her car in a paddock in Taupo in November 2020.

Police charged the officer with assault, but he was acquitted last month, and is still employed by Police.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found the officer didn't need to use such force - when he already had the girl under control.

Police have acknowledged the use of force wasn't reasonable.