Police are brushing aside criticism over an incident which saw eight shots fired at the back of a man after he'd turned to flee

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found police were justified in shooting machete-wielding Jerrim Toms on State Highway One near Puhoi, in March last year.

However the Authority found there could have had better communication and co-ordination around the incident.

Superintendent Naila Hassan says they acknowledge the findings.... but officers work with the best of intentions, with the information they have available.