Police Minister Mark Mitchell. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
The police minister says emails containing allegations about Jevon McSkimming's behaviour were kept from him by former commissioner Andrew Coster's office.
Coster is named in a scathing 135-page IPCA report into McSkimming, the former Deputy Police Commissioner, who last week pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.
The report revealed senior police failed to respond to a number of complaints made against McSkimming. When they did refer the matter to the IPCA, Coster attempted to speed up the investigation in what was perceived by some as him trying to protect McSkimming's prospect of becoming the next Commissioner of Police.
Thirty-six emails containing the allegations were sent to Police Minister Mark Mitchell's office since December 2023, but he told Morning Report he never saw them.
Mitchell said there was protocol put in place by the Commissioner's office that he was not to see the emails.
He was first briefed by Coster on 6 November that there was an IPCA investigation relating to McSkimming and a woman.
He said there was nothing to indicate there was any interference by the senior leadership.
"But it has become obvious with the release of the IPCA report that [interference] is exactly what was happening and everyone can see now just how bad it was," Mitchell said.
The woman referred to in the report as Ms Z was charged in May last year with causing harm by posting digital communication in relation to more than 300 emails she allegedly sent to McSkimming's work email address between December 2023 and April 2024.
Meanwhile, Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has been critical of what he believes was a cover up by the former senior leadership team.
Chambers told Morning Report he was not given a heads up from Coster about the investigation into McSkimming, and he was shocked when he was told.
He denies there was a systemic failure of the New Zealand police and its processes, but says it was a failure of the former leadership of the police, who were acting in "self-interest".
Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
"It's disgraceful. What occurred is not the way we do things in police. It was a total failure by the former senior leadership of New Zealand police and their integrity," Chambers told Morning Report.
Asked if there had been a cover-up, Chambers said:
"That's the way that many will interpret it and my personal view is that there was you know a bunch of senior leaders, who have now exited the organisation, who were acting in the self interests of themselves frankly and in particular one individual, so people will interpret the report in their own way but the way I read it."
"That's exactly what happened."
Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver
Coster [ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/political/578556/former-police-commissioner-andrew-coster-placed-on-leave-from-ceo-role-after-release-of-damning-report has been placed on leave] after the damning report.
He became chief executive of the Social Investment Agency after his tenure as New Zealand's top cop.
Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis told Morning Report privacy checks on Coster before he was appointed would not have picked up the allegations of his role in the handling of the complaints as the IPCA report had not concluded.
Willis said she was aware Coster had been interviewed by the IPCA as part of the investigation but did not know the full details of the claims she read the report on Sunday.
When questioned by Morning Report, Willis would not say whether she wants Coster to remain in the role.
"I think it's important that the Public Service Commissioner do this properly and by the book," Willis said.
"I was shocked and appalled by what I read on Sunday because at the centre of this was a woman who was let down extremely badly by the New Zealand Police. She deserved to have the allegations she made taken seriously and they were not."
Jevon McSkimming. Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Chambers said he is "very pleased" the former leadership have left police.
When asked whether any of the police involved in the handling of the allegations are still employed by police, Chambers said the employment of three individuals is under an independent investigation.
"I have got to let that process take its course and, no doubt, decisions will be made in the future."
He reassured New Zealanders that they can have trust and confidence in police.
"It's not acceptable a small group of people at the most senior level have let so many people down - that is a disgrace," Chambers said.
"I do want to reassure New Zealanders that I have outstanding investigators who work in this field every day [and] do an incredible job for victims. I don't want this to detract from victims coming forward and talking to us and our good police officers being able to act on that in the right way.
"We can be proud of the progress we have made over the years and I don't want this to reflect on my staff."
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