Source: Radio New Zealand
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
A police officer who wrongly labelled the accusations against Jevon McSkimming as “false” still works for police, but no longer has anything to do with the handling of evidence or interacting with victims of crime, says the police commissioner.
A damning report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority, released yesterday, found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police over how they handled accusations of sexual offending by the former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
Some of those heavily criticised in the report are still employed by police, while others have been able to resign. Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has been placed on leave from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, following the release of the report.
Three staff members highlighted in the report still work for police, and Police Commissioner Richard Chambers told Checkpoint that he had appointed a King’s Counsel to oversee the employment process involving those three people.
“They are still on active duty and we’ve worked through that process to make sure that’s the right decision.
“There’s a process to follow, and we need to let it take its course.”
Former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. RNZ / Mark Papalii
‘Officer B’ – who labelled the allegations made by McSkimming’s accuser as ‘false’, according to the IPCA report – still worked for police, but no longer dealt with the handling of evidence or interacting with victims of crime.
He would not rule out the possibility of further criminal prosecutions over the “residual” issues raised in the report, but stressed that it was still very early in the process.
“There are other matters that are under investigation that relate to credit card transactions and various other things. But the primary matters that were brought to our concern have been resolved.”
Chambers said the actions described in the IPCA report were “incredibly disappointing”.
“It’s a kick in the guts for New Zealand Police, and frankly for our country, because New Zealanders deserve better.
“We had very sound systems and processes in place to deal with those types of complaints, that was not followed, they departed from it and they took control of it themselves. Group-think and self interest were issues here.”
He said he was keeping an “open mind” about compensation being paid to the victim.
“I have reached out to counsel to express my apology on behalf of NZ Police, I did that yesterday afternoon, he was happy to hear from me and I see that no doubt there would be a further conversation because I would like to personally apologise to his client.”
He said there were still some “outstanding” senior leaders in New Zealand Police.
“I look forward to having some new deputy commissioners, some new assistant commissioners and I look forward to steering NZ police in the right direction.”
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
