Police Minister accepts ‘natural’ impact of Police Commissioner allegations on frontline cops

Police Minister Mark Mitchell accepts it would be “only natural” for frontline officers to be unsettled by allegations directed at the Police Commissioner, so soon after the police executive was embroiled in scandal.

However, Mitchell says no concerns have been expressed to him by officers and he is appealing to the public to retain confidence in police.

Labour police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen suspects officers will encounter a public reaction, and says she wouldn’t have commented to the extent Mitchell did after the allegations were publicised.

The Herald last week revealed two police officers from the Police National Integrity Unit had flown to Australia to interview a woman over historical sexual allegations against Chambers.

It followed a separate complaint, which RNZ reported was believed to have been made by a former police staffer.

Chambers said in a statement that he strongly rejected the claims against him.

“I have been advised the IPCA [Independent Police Conduct Authority] and police are investigating complaints against me. I strongly reject the claims that have been made.

“I will co-operate fully with the investigation and look forward to having this matter dealt with. I acknowledge the public interest in this, but it is important the investigation takes its course. I cannot make further comment at this point.”

Police Commissioner Richard Chambers presents at a Parliament select committee. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The Public Service Commission has confirmed it had not deemed it necessary for Chambers to stand down from his role while the complaints were investigated.

It followed the scandal involving former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who resigned after child sexual exploitation and bestiality material was found on his work devices.

An IPCA report then found significant failings in how police handled other allegations made against McSkimming, which implicated former police commissioner Andrew Coster.

After the IPCA report was released in November, Chambers was highly critical of his predecessors, including Coster.

“It’s an absolute disgrace. It’s lacking in leadership, it’s lacking integrity. You know, so he’s [Coster] going to need to answer to that,” Chambers said in November while responding to the IPCA’s findings.

Chambers said the way some previous police leaders acted amounted to a “cover-up”, for which he faced criticism from former deputy commissioner Tania Kura.

Speaking to reporters at Parliament today, Mitchell reiterated his confidence in Chambers but wouldn’t comment further when asked what informed his view.

“The advice that we’ve heard from the [Public Service Commission] is that it doesn’t reach any threshold in terms of having the Commissioner stood down.”

He hoped the public continued to have high levels of trust in police.

“I would appeal to the public to maintain the confidence in police.

“We have one of the least corrupt police forces in the world, we should be proud of that.”

Asked whether the revelation of the allegations would unsettle frontline officers, Mitchell acknowledged that would be “only natural” but insisted he hadn’t heard this from officers.

Labour police spokeswoman Ginny Andersen believes officers will face a public reaction. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Andersen told reporters it was difficult for officers when such issues came to light.

“Frontline police officers have to deal with the level of response they get from the public and that’s really hard on them.”

In his first statement responding to the allegations, Mitchell referenced the role of the IPCA, but added Chambers was an “outstanding Police Commissioner, he’s doing a very good job for us”.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon appeared more reluctant to offer comment further than referrals to the IPCA, but when pressed, did express confidence in Chambers.

Andersen today indicated she wouldn’t have commented in the same way as Mitchell.

“If I was the Minister of Police and there was an inquiry underway, I would wait until that inquiry had reported back.”

Adam Pearse is the Deputy Political Editor and part of the NZ Herald’s Press Gallery team based at Parliament in Wellington. He has worked for NZME since 2018, reporting for the Northern Advocate in Whangārei and the Herald in Auckland.