A woman who accused former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming of sexual offending remains before the court on charges of harassing another police officer and his wife.
A damning report released this week by the Independent Police Conduct Authority found serious misconduct at the highest levels, including former Commissioner Andrew Coster, over how police responded to the allegations.
The claims arose from an affair between McSkimming and the woman, who at the time was a junior non-sworn police employee.
The woman was charged in May last year with causing harm by posting digital communication in relation to over 300 emails she allegedly sent to McSkimming’s work email address between December 2023 and April 2024.
The emails included abusive and derogatory language directed towards McSkimming and other people.
The charge against the woman was withdrawn in the Wellington District Court in September because McSkimming did not wish to give evidence.
However, a suppression order on McSkimming’s identity as a complainant remained until it was lifted on Tuesday.
The woman remains before the court on two charges of causing harm by posting a digital communication.
RNZ approached police for comment on Wednesday on whether they had any comment on charges she still faced and whether police would now drop them.
On Thursday Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said the matter was before the court and police had instructed a senior criminal barrister in the proceeding.
“It would be inappropriate for me to comment about the merits, including public interest, of any case that is before the court.
“However, what I have done and what I can say is, that I have assured myself that proper process has been followed in bringing this case.”
Assistant Commissioner Mike Johnson said Ms Z was the defendant in a prosecution in the District Court.
“In these circumstances it is not appropriate to comment publicly on the merits of the prosecution, including the public interest.”
Speaking to Checkpoint on Wednesday, Chambers said the IPCA report’s findings 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.”
In a statement to RNZ on Tuesday, the woman’s lawyer Steven Lack, said police “failed my client”.
“Over a period of years, she attempted to report allegations of serious physical, psychological and sexual offending by Mr McSkimming, then one of the most senior Police Officers in the country. Instead of being heard, she was dismissed and ultimately prosecuted for speaking out and raising her concerns.
“At every stage, the Police had the opportunity to engage with her, to properly assess what she was saying, and to investigate her allegations. They could have viewed her as a traumatised victim. They chose not to. They accepted Mr McSkimming’s denials without meaningful inquiry and placed the full weight of the criminal justice system on my client for more than a year until the charge against her was withdrawn. Understandably this has had a devastating impact on her.
“The way her complaints were handled should alarm all New Zealanders. It suggests that the Police were more focused on protecting Mr McSkimming’s career and advancement than on properly assessing serious allegations of offending against him.”
Lack said the police were an organisation “entrusted by the community to protect and serve”.
“In my client’s case, they did neither.”
rnz.co.nz
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