Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster has been placed on leave from his role as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency after an Independent Police Conduct Authority report found serious misconduct at the highest levels of police, including Coster himself, over the handling of sexual offending allegations against ex–Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming.
The report revealed senior police delayed referring the case to the IPCA and later attempted to influence the investigation.
Public Service Minister Judith Collins called it a “massive failure of leadership,” while Social Investment Minister Nicola Willis said she was “shocked and appalled.”
Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Labour leader Chris Hipkins both said Coster must be held accountable, with Hipkins calling the leadership’s failure “inexcusable.” Public Service Commissioner Sir Brian Roche is now conducting his own investigation.
IPCA Report
The IPCA report found serious failings and misconduct by senior Police leaders, including former Commissioner Andrew Coster, in their handling of complaints made against Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming in 2023 and 2024. The allegations involved sexual activity without consent, threats using intimate recordings, and misuse of Police resources to further a sexual relationship. The Authority found that Police repeatedly failed to act on complaints, delayed referring them to the IPCA, and instead investigated the complainant for potential offences. It said senior officers accepted McSkimming’s version of events without scrutiny and failed to uphold basic standards of integrity.
The IPCA said the inaction, poor oversight, and attempts to influence the later investigation undermined public confidence in the Police and exposed deep cultural and structural weaknesses within its leadership. It found Coster had failed to disclose relevant information during McSkimming’s appointment process and later sought to limit the IPCA’s inquiry to avoid disrupting the Commissioner selection. The Authority recommended major reforms to strengthen Police integrity systems, reinforce independent oversight, and ensure senior management accountability when serious misconduct arises.
Statement of Police Commissioner Richard Chambers
The findings of the IPCA review into the Police handling of complaints against Jevon McSkimming show inexcusable conduct by former senior leaders of NZ Police.
The events and findings set out in the IPCA report made for appalling reading and showed a total lack of leadership and integrity at the highest levels of Police.
I was shocked by the report’s account of departures in 2023 and 2024 from the expected processes for dealing both with sexual assault complaints and with investigations into police officers.
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.
I am apologising to the woman at the centre of this 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.
It was not until late 2024 that an investigation was set up to properly investigate those claims. That should have happened from the start.
I want to acknowledge those 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.
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.
That has angered me. It was not those staff who were found wanting here. It was a failing of leadership.
The actions and attitudes set out in the report are inexcusable and show a disrespect and disregard for what NZ Police stands for.
The report is thorough and convincing, and I accept the recommendations and intent of them. My leadership team will meet to develop a plan to address those recommendations.
The processes for complaints against senior Police leaders were too easily ignored or bypassed here, despite attempts by some staff to ensure they were adhered to. That is of concern and I agree extra safeguards are needed.
I welcome the IPCA’s recommendations and government decisions to achieve that.
Most of those involved in the report are no longer staff of NZ Police.
I have appointed an independent King’s Counsel to undertake employment investigations where required.
The report’s other recommendations are relevant to other work I already have underway to strengthen integrity.
I am currently undertaking an extensive refresh of the Police Executive and wider leadership, including the appointment of two statutory deputy commissioners and new assistant commissioners.
The IPCA recommendations to strengthen the role of the Integrity and Conduct Unit will form part of that refresh.
I have started revising the Police Code of Conduct, aimed at strengthening accountability.
I recently ordered an immediate uplift to the Police National Integrity Unit, adding six investigators. That unit handles investigations into police staff.
Earlier this year, I also invited the Public Service Commission to conduct a Performance Improvement Review into NZ Police, focusing on integrity and conduct. It is the first such review of NZ Police since 2012 and is aimed at positioning Police for the future.
The absolute worst outcome of this would be if anyone did not feel safe in reporting sexual assault to Police, or did not think Police would listen and investigate thoroughly.
I want to reassure you that is not the case. 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.
I know some people will question whether Police have learned the lessons of the past after reading this report.
Over many years, Police has put a lot of resource and effort into developing and implementing very robust processes for dealing with sexual violence complaints. Our specialist adult sexual assault teams are highly trained and dedicated.
One of the most disappointing things about this report was that a small group of senior leaders at that time elected to depart from those processes.
The attitudes on display here are not attitudes I have experienced among specialist investigation team staff, nor are they attitudes acceptable to me.
Curdled milk rises to the top. Never more so than in Government. Detestable bunch.
Will never forgive Costers role in the COVID Scandemic.
This new Commissioner, Chambers, he should have been on the panel for the Covid enquiry. He seems to know how to get things done and bring Justice. Sounds like he would gave brought Hipkins, Ardern, Bloomfield and others to true confession and repentance!!
What’s repentance going to do?
The damage has been done and there’s no going back
Consequently we are a sick cuntry mired in debt
About to get much worse
Maybe he could have a look at Christchurch and the actions of his predecessor ?
Predecessor going back more than one to Christchurch which is where the rot set in
Bring back Mike Bush for some house cleaning
LOL
LOL
Mike Bush doing a great job in Melbourne? Yeah right. The police are rotten to the core at the top.
Everything went downhill when the height restrictions were removed
Lets dig a little deeper, I am sure there are some more spiders hiding in the dark blue.
“The allegations involved sexual activity without consent, threats using intimate recordings, and misuse of Police resources to further a sexual relationship”.
The allegations were made by a woman, with whom McSkimming had an affair, over a number of years.
Another failed Ardern Legacy. Let’s be kind……..of stupid.
Let’s ignore the lawnmower man, nudge nudge, wink, wink, and the job is yours.
And just what exactly is this trough all about, and what exactly does it do, and how much is this costing us?
https://www.sia.govt.nz/social-investment-fund
It looks to me like a lovely little department purpose built for Coster and it’s only been in operation for 3 months, and already a scandal.
Geez Loiuse I give up in despair.
Another talk fest at the Govt. Tax payer funded. Total BS.
Wait. What? Hipkins asking for accountability. Thats a bit rich!
Until the day the IPCA or its replacement (Inspector General) – have legislated prosecutorial powers – to charge policemen and police women for criminal conduct – The NZ police shall remain the biggest Thug Gang in NZ. They are literally answerable to nobody. A law unto themselves and for this very reason have morphed into NZ’s biggest gang.
As a retired commissioned officer in an overseas Police Force – I personally have nothing but disdain for NZ Police. Clueless. They have the tactical nous of a seagull and they are extremely arrogant on top of that as well.
A “massive failure of leadership” is a topic Judith Collins is an expert on.
Goat riders?
Who appointed Coster? Who oversaw the Christchurch false flag coverup? Who initiated the gun grab immediately following the Christchurch false flag? Who ordered the thugs in blue on the Parliamentary grounds to brutalize the NZ people rightfully there?
We all know the answer to these and many more disturbing questions. She’s afraid to step foot back into this country she worked so hard to destroy.
Ahhh good ‘ole GodZone, the Banana Republic that parades itself as a paragon of democracy and corruption free. Brought to you by Pfizer and Goldman Sachs.
Sexual lust – the downfall of many!
The rot came from the top.The one who fled.
The New Zealand police force has been inherently corrupt for decades there is no way that anyone can ever trust a policeman sorry police person with male genitals and or chest feeding person. There is no separation of powers and anyone who thinks that is delusional in fact I would go as far as to say cognitive dissonance has invaded their thinking. A cess pit of lies is what New Zealand has become. Read it and weep man as that’s just the way it is.
Just goes to show those condemning the Labour govt during govt during the scamdemic and the actions of the so called police, had the moral high ground. Next election show Labour and National the door. For my money neither have our best interests at the heart of their policies, if you can call them that.
I am afraid this is across the whole of NZ in all areas and stems from a culture of sycophant’s is what we have become.
Very dangerous as anyone who challenges the narrative or senior management is marginalised and cancelled.
We are told what to think free thinking is now strongly discouraged decades ago it was encouraged.
This culture is in our councils and workplaces it really is bullying to the extreme yet not discussed, people are afraid to challenge it doesn’t matter if you are useless at your job as long as you are a sycophant and don’t rock the boat you will be fine for promotion.
Jacinda’s lapdog sycophant c…sucker .
Wake up people this culture of sycophant behaviour is everywhere and will be our downfall.
Even the Roman empire failed dont think it can’t happen we are on our way.
Only Richard Chambers has genuine integrity. He was not a friend of those five.
Ahole should have been fired after freedom camp! What a prick coster is dictated to by the other pricks grrrrr good riddance to bad rubbish
Don’t be fooled. This Chambers character has been knee deep in the totalitarian s*** state for years. Here are just two excerpts from the cops’ OWN website, praising this new appointment:
“With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand in early 2020, Richard became co-lead of the New Zealand Police response.”
and…
“In 2022 he served as National Controller of Operation Convoy, the policing of the 23-day illegal occupation of Parliament Grounds and surrounding streets”
A trojan horse wheeled in to give the plebs the idea that something will change.