The Police watchdog's found an Auckland Police officer was justified in using a vehicle to strike an offender

The officer rammed his dog van into an armed man in West Auckland.

The man had aimed a gun at two people, stolen two cars, and crashed into other vehicles in late 2022.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority says the officer believed the man could still escape, probably armed.

It says alternatives -- like deploying the Police dog or using a taser from a moving vehicle -- also posed safety risks.

The IPCA says using Police vehicles in this way isn't usually encouraged.