The Unbiased Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has discovered senior police didn’t observe correct process when critical complaints had been made in opposition to then-Police Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming and as a substitute launched a prosecution in opposition to the lady who reported him.
The IPCA report, launched in the present day, November 11, says police leaders confirmed “critical misconduct” and a “complete lack of management and integrity” in how they dealt with complaints relationship again to 2023 and early 2024.
The IPCA’s findings come simply days after McSkimming, 52, appeared within the Wellington District Court docket on November 6 and pleaded responsible to possessing objectionable materials.
The costs relate to pictures of kid sexual exploitation and bestiality discovered on his police-issued gadgets whereas he was being investigated over one other matter.
It was that wider inquiry which first delivered to gentle the complete extent of McSkimming’s alleged offending.
The ’different matter’
The feminine complainant, referred to within the IPCA report as ‘Ms Z’, made allegations about McSkimming referring to sexual exercise with out consent, threats to make use of an intimate recording, and misuse of police property.
On the time, the allegations arose from a sexual relationship between McSkimming, then aged 40, and the 21-year-old complainant.
As an alternative of investigating her claims, police pursued her beneath the Dangerous Digital Communications Act. The cost laid in opposition to her was solely just lately withdrawn by the Crown.
In keeping with the IPCA, “the one investigation that was launched centered on potential offences by the complainant, resulting in her prosecution”.
The authority discovered senior figures, together with the then-Commissioner, two deputy commissioners and an assistant commissioner, didn’t act when complaints had been raised through emails, social-media posts and the police 105 reporting line.
When police finally referred the case to the IPCA in October, 2024, Police Commissioner Andrew Coster tried to affect the scope and timing of the watchdog’s investigation, which the authority mentioned appeared designed to keep away from affecting McSkimming’s prospects of changing into the subsequent commissioner.
It additionally discovered Coster didn’t disclose his data of the connection throughout earlier appointment processes.
The report concluded these failures “undermined the integrity of the organisation as a complete” and revealed deep flaws in how senior police handle inside integrity dangers.
“The same old integrity checks and balances had been bypassed,” the authority says, because it requires stronger oversight, legislative reform, and clearer accountability for senior-level conduct.
Commissioner apologises to complainant
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says the findings present “inexcusable conduct by former senior leaders of New Zealand Police”.
“The ambitions of a senior police officer had been put above the pursuits of a weak girl. She was ignored and badly let down. That was unacceptable.”
Chambers says the report’s account of “departures from anticipated processes” made for “appalling studying” and amounted to “a complete lack of management and integrity on the highest ranges”.
“It was a failing of management,” he says. “The attitudes on show listed here are inexcusable and present a disrespect and disrespect for what NZ Police stands for.”
He says most of these concerned have since left the organisation and an impartial King’s Counsel would oversee any essential employment investigations.
Chambers confirmed a wide-ranging integrity reform programme was beneath method, together with an uplift to the Nationwide Integrity Unit, revisions to the Police Code of Conduct, and a Public Service Fee efficiency evaluate specializing in integrity and conduct.
“Absolutely the worst end result could be if anybody felt unsafe reporting sexual assault to police,” he says. “I wish to reassure you that isn’t the case.”
Requires stronger oversight
The IPCA has advisable legislative and structural reforms to strengthen independence in misconduct investigations, develop the authority’s oversight powers, and guarantee ministerial and parliamentary scrutiny of future integrity instances.
Its report emphasised that whereas most officers act with equity and restraint, the failures on this case present the necessity for “a sustained plan of motion” to rebuild public belief that police will act “with out worry or favour”.
