Police Commissioner Richard Chambers Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says he is determined there will never be a repeat of the "group think" and closed ranks that led to members of the senior executive blocking an investigation into disgraced former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
McSkimming - who was in the running for the top job - is due to be sentenced on 17 December, after pleading guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material over a four-year period.
In a wide-ranging interview with Nine to Noon reflecting on his challenging first year as Commissioner, Chambers said the report by the independent police watchdog had called out the decisions, behaviours and processes adopted by the former executive - "and rightly so".
He wanted to ensure there would be no repeat of such mistakes under his watch - nor for anyone who followed him in the role, he said.
"We must always remain alert to the risks of what 'group think' would otherwise result in," he said. "This appeared to be a group of like-minded individuals who listened to a story that should not have been listened to."
Former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming Photo: RNZ / Mark Papalii
Chambers said he was appointing a new leadership team to lead police into 2026, with two new deputy confirmed "this side of Christmas".
The number of assistant commissioner roles had also been reduced to five - "it was too big and bloated" - and at least two of those roles would be filled by new appointments, he said.
As a result of the Independent Police Conduct Authority report into the handling of the McSkimming complaints, three serving police officers were currently under investigation, led by Kristy McDonald KC, with "recommendations" expected before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Chambers has also ordered regular audits of internet usage - that had stopped several years ago - which had identified 20 staff with concerning activity, three of whom were able to explain the material found as part of their jobs, while six had been stood down from active duty.
Chambers said he would welcome the appointment of an Inspector General for Police, as the Government has signalled.
"It's another mechanism for concerns to be raised.
"Anything that keeps organisation safe and the leaders accountable and gives the public confidence is a good thing."
The McSkimming scandal was not a failure of "process" Chambers said.
"New Zealand Police over the years have worked hard to deal with complaints and put in processes in place.
"The problem was the former executive departed from those.
"There must be no deviation."
The Police Integrity Unit - led by Detective Superintendent Kylie Schaare (one of the officers who raised the alarm in the McSkimming case) - was set to get seven new investigator positions.
"I don't want seven bosses, I want seven investigators."
Chambers knew "absolutely nothing" about McSkimming allegations
Chambers said the first he heard about the complaints against McSkimming was two days before he started in the role.
Chambers has asked the government to revoke McSkimming's good conduct and long service medals, and has also been reissuing any certificates signed by the former deputy commissioner at the request of staff.
However, it was not up to him whether the disgraced top officer should get his police pension, he said.
It was reported last month that McSkimming would keep his police pension despite his conviction.
"That's not a matter for me to decide. He's left police and held accountable for crimes committed," Chambers said on Monday.
Regarding the 130 officers found to have been falsifying breath tests, Chambers said it was "very disappointing", but should not detract from the work of thousands of police officers nation-wide.
When asked whether police could have done more to catch fugitive Tom Phillips during his four years on the run with his children in the Waikato bush, Chambers said he did not believe so.
"I want the inquiry to take its course and if we missed an opportunity, we will own that one.
"But based on conversations with front-line staff, I don't believe there was an opportunity that they missed."
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