The police watchdog has found “significant failings” in the police – including former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster – in its handling of serious complaints made against disgraced former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
McSkimming, 52, pleaded guilty in the Wellington District Court on Thursday to three representative charges of possessing objectionable publications, namely child sexual exploitation and bestiality material knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is objectionable.
The allegations arose from a sexual relationship between McSkimming, then aged 40, and a 21-year-old complainant.
‘Damning report’ on police inquiry into McSkimming case – Watch on TVNZ+
The complaints, formally referred to the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) on October 10, 2024, included allegations of sexual interaction without consent, threats to use an intimate visual recording, and misuse of a police credit card and police property to further a sexual relationship. Some of the complaints alleged criminal conduct, while others alleged behaviour constituting a potential breach of the Police Code of Conduct.
Most of the complaints prior to October 2024 were made through emails and internet communications to individuals, as well as a comment on a police LinkedIn announcement that McSkimming had been appointed a statutory Deputy Commissioner in April 2023, and three complaints through the police 105 online reporting portal in April of that year.
‘Ignored and badly let down’ – Commissioner
In a statement, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the events and findings laid out in the IPCA report “made for appalling reading and showed a total lack of leadership and integrity at the highest levels of police”.
“The usual integrity checks and balances were bypassed, there was interference from the highest levels, and the ambitions of a senior police officer were put above the interests of a vulnerable woman.”
Chambers issued an apology to the woman at the centre of the complaints “for the repeated early failures in following the proper processes for investigating this matter by those at such a senior level of police”.
“She was ignored and badly let down. That was unacceptable.”
He added that an investigation launched in 2024 to look into the woman’s claims “should have happened from the start”.
Chambers also acknowledged senior police staff who “did stand up and challenge what was happening here”.
“I thank them for the courage, leadership, and integrity they showed in doing so.”
He continued: “The events in the report are a kick in the guts for the 15,000 women and men of NZ Police who turn up to work every day and night to serve New Zealanders and keep them safe.”
“The actions and attitudes set out in the report are inexcusable and show a disrespect and disregard for what NZ Police stands for.”
Chambers accepted the recommendations of the IPCA report, adding that he and his leadership team would meet to develop a plan to address them.
An independent King’s Counsel had been appointed to carry out employment investigations where required, he announced, and an “extensive refresh” of the police executive and wider leadership – including the appointment of two statutory deputy commissioners and new assistant commissioners – was underway.
“The report’s other recommendations are relevant to other work I already have underway to strengthen integrity.”
The Police Code of Conduct was undergoing a revision, Chambers said, and six investigators had been immediately added to the police national integrity and conduct unit.
“What happened here will dismay and anger the dedicated specialist investigators around the country who put everything into their work trying to hold perpetrators of sexual violence to account and keep people safe,” he said.
‘Undermined the integrity’ of the police
Former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming was initially believed by his peers when accused of sexual misconduct. (Source: 1News)
A report released today by the IPCA was critical of the police response, which the watchdog said was “characterised by inaction and an unquestioning acceptance of Mr McSkimming’s narrative of events”.
“While there was no evidence of collusion between officers in this respect, the IPCA has nevertheless found serious misconduct by a number of very senior officers and other senior police employees during 2023 and early 2024 that has undermined the integrity of the organisation as a whole.”
According to the report, when police referred the matter to the IPCA in October 2024, Coster “attempted to influence the nature and extent of the investigation and the time frame for its completion”.
“Those attempts were perceived by some others within police as designed to bring the investigation to a rapid and premature conclusion so as not to intersect with the Commissioner appointment process and jeopardise Mr McSkimming’s prospects of being appointed as the next Commissioner of Police, notwithstanding the seriousness of the allegations being made.”
In 2023, while a member of the interview panel for the statutory Deputy Commissioner appointment process, Coster also failed to disclose to the Public Service Commission his knowledge of McSkimming’s relationship which had subsequently led to the emails alleging misconduct.
“This failure clearly fell below what a reasonable person would have expected of a person in his position. Subsequently, Commissioner Coster’s disclosure to the Public Service Commission on October 8, 2024, during the interim Commissioner appointment process, also fell well short of what a reasonable person would have expected, given what he knew at the time.”
Coster left the police in November 2024 to become Secretary for Social Investment and Chief Executive with the Social Investment Agency.
This afternoon, 1News confirmed he had been put on leave.
Finance Minister Nicola Willis told 1News she has requested Coster’s employer, the Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche, look at the the former police commissioner’s appointment.
“I read the Independent Police Conduct Authority’s report on Sunday and was shocked and appalled by its findings. I have conveyed my views to Public Service Commissioner Brian Roche. The matter now sits with him as Mr Coster’s employer.”
McSkimming’s appointment to deputy commissioner amid ‘strange relationship’
Sir Brian today released the findings of an independent review into the reference and probity checks that were undertaken prior to the 2023 appointment of McSkimming to the role of Deputy Police Commissioner.
He said the review, completed by Miriam Dean in March this year, identified “practical recommendations to strengthen future appointments”.
“The commission responded immediately by strengthening our appointment processes and introducing new safeguards. This has been a wake-up call,” Sir Brian said.
Sir Brian said a referee of McSkimming’s mentioned a “strange relationship” and the commission should have examined this more thoroughly. However, he said it was unlikely to have changed the outcome.
As well as Coster, the IPCA was also critical of two Deputy Commissioners and an Assistant Commissioner.
The damning IPCA report found several failings, including a lack of effective action being taken to investigate the comment on the LinkedIn announcement; and a report by the joint police/Health Fixated Threat Assessment Centre in February 2024, which identified the fact that potential criminal and Police Code of Conduct concerns relating to McSkimming were being alleged in the emails. The report suggested referral to the police national integrity unit and the IPCA with a view to possible investigation.
“However, the Deputy Commissioner and the Acting Assistant Commissioner (Investigations) to whom this recommendation was directed took no action. Instead, the only investigation that was launched focused on potential offences by the complainant under the Harmful Digital Communications Act, leading to her prosecution,” the report said.
IPCA recommendations
The IPCA made several “fundamental” recommendations for change, including strengthening the watchdog’s oversight role and greater ministerial and Parliamentary oversight.
“The serious misconduct identified by the authority in this report should not tarnish the reputation of those Police staff throughout the country who deal with difficult and risky situations every day with restraint, impartiality and fairness,” it read.
“It is also important to note that the report draws attention to a number of staff who acted with integrity and moral courage in their efforts to do the right thing in the face of considerable pressure from more senior colleagues.”
The IPCA said nevertheless, the findings in the report “graphically demonstrate that the integrity system needs to be strengthened in order to ensure that it operates with transparency, fairness and independence when conduct issues arise at any level in police”.
“While police have made significant advances towards a more positive culture since the Bazley inquiry in 2008, the settings in place to protect and enhance integrity are still not sufficiently robust to enable the public to have confidence that police will do their job ‘without fear or favour.’ A sustained plan of action is required to effect further substantial change. There ought to be a focus on leadership but supported by stronger organisational settings that sustain good practice and protect integrity, including even when leadership fails.”
The recommendations include:
• More specific recognition of who is responsible for the protection of integrity at senior management level
• A revamp of police internal policies and programmes to promote positive culture around integrity issues and ethical behaviour
• Changes to the integrity and conduct unit within police to enable it to play a stronger and more independent role and more effectively to act against poor behaviour when it arises
• Legislative and structural changes to enable more robust criminal and employment processes and outcomes in relation to alleged misconduct by police officers
• A strengthening of the IPCA’s oversight role
• Enhanced ministerial and Parliamentary oversight.
The report said the complaints and allegations made against McSkimming “does not make any findings as to the truth of these allegations”.
“We have assessed police actions solely on the basis of what the officers concerned knew at the time. The outcome of any investigation into those complaints and allegations is irrelevant to the findings in this report, as are any other allegations relating to Deputy Commissioner McSkimming that have subsequently come to light.”
‘Extremely concerning and disappointing’ – Govt
The Government has this evening announced it is taking steps to appoint “the strongest possible oversight of the New Zealand Police” in light of the damning IPCA report.
“The Independent Police Conduct Authority has conducted a wide-ranging and comprehensive review, and its findings are extremely concerning and disappointing,” Public Service Minister Judith Collins said.
“It has found serious issues within the former Police executive, which is why the Government is acting decisively to install the strongest statutory oversight mechanism available to it – an Inspector-General of Police.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the report highlighted “significant flaws in the decision making, judgement and actions of a group of individuals, including those at the top of the previous police executive”.
“Their actions have raised serious concerns about integrity and culture within the then executive.
“At the centre of this is a woman who has been let down by the former police executive and the system. I cannot express how frustrated and disappointed I have been since becoming aware of the situation.”
The report also raised questions around whether there was sufficient independent oversight of the police to prevent similar issues from happening again, as well as probity checking of McSkimming by the Public Service Commission when he was appointed Deputy Police Commissioner in 2023. McSkimming was suspended and ultimately resigned after concerns were raised during the Police Commissioner recruitment process in 2024.
“New Zealanders will understandably have questions around how McSkimming was able to be considered for roles at the highest level of police given what has come to light. The PSC is taking these concerns very seriously,” Collins said.
“The IPCA makes 13 recommendations for police and a further two for the Government regarding police oversight. All have been accepted.
“The report recommends strengthening the IPCA, but it is imperative New Zealanders have confidence in our police. That is why we are choosing the most robust level of oversight available to the Government, which is to appoint an Inspector-General to give the highest level of independent oversight of police.”
The Public Service Commission has also moved to strengthen its recruitment process, Collins said, by “proactively conducting an independent review on the reference and probity checks undertaken on McSkimming in 2022-2023 prior to his appointment as Deputy Police Commissioner”.
The review found the commission’s appointment processes “overall were sound, well-considered and well-managed but recommended ways they could be improved, and these have now been implemented”. It included guidance on how to probe personal and sensitive matters.
Mitchell said police had accepted all the recommendations put forward in the IPCA report, which included “strengthening integrity and conduct processes, amending the code of conduct to provide for mandatory reporting, and refreshing integrity training”.
“All those in the executive who were involved in the case at the time have now left the police.”
Hipkins: Labour will support oversight of police
Labour Leader Chris Hipkins said: “The report and evidence confirm that senior police failed to hold Jevon McSkimming to account for his actions, or appropriately manage complaints made about him. This is inexcusable and a complete failure of duty.
“People should have every confidence that if they take a complaint to police it is investigated fully.”
Hipkins said Labour supported the changes set to be made by the Commissioner and Government “to restore public confidence, including the appointment of an inspector-general of police”.
“Nothing was ever raised about any of this during my time as Police Minister or Prime Minister, or during the vetting process for the Deputy Commissioner role, and if it had he would never have been appointed and further action would have been taken.
“I am extremely disappointed in police leadership.”
