Podcasts about independent police conduct authority

This week on The Wednesday Wire... For our weekly catch up with the Green Party, Wire host Manny spoke MP Recardo Menendez March about agressive US foreign policy towards Venezuela and Greenland, the Manage My Health data breach, and his intentions going into the election year. They also spoke with National Secretary of the Public Service Association (PSA) about their complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority over failing police support for mental health workers. They also spoke with Commissioner North for Biosecurity New Zealand, Mike Inglis, on their work containing the invasive hornets found on the north shore and the fruit fly found in Mount Roskill. And Producer Castor spoke with Chief Executive of Retail NZ Carolyn Young about the recent closures of a string of businesses amidst rising costs and declining costumer bases.

Whether-or-not you saw former police commissioner Andrew Coster's TV interview yesterday, you'll know about the allegations he's making. He thinks people are running for the hills after the Jevon McSkimming scandal and aren't telling the whole story in terms of what they knew and when they knew it. Especially current police minister Mark Mitchell and former police minister Chris Hipkins. Isn't it weird that someone who served in the police for more than 25 years - who, I imagine, determined at some points during that time that there wasn't enough evidence to prosecute - thinks he can make all sorts of accusations without one shred of evidence to prove it? That's what I took away from yesterday's interview. Can you imagine the police charging anyone with an offence with zero proof or zero evidence? Yet that is exactly what Andrew Coster did yesterday. He made these allegations that Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell aren't being upfront. Then, in the next breath, admitted that he had no record or evidence to prove it. That would be “case closed” if it was a police investigation. And, because he can't prove it, I can't believe him. This is someone who spent 28 years looking for evidence of guilt. He's got no evidence to back-up what he's saying - so I'm not buying it. Chris Hipkins and Mark Mitchell are both denying Coster's claims. Chris Hipkins says he “was never briefed on Jevon McSkimming's relationship with Ms Z during his time as minister of police or prime minister. Andrew Coster claims he told Hipkins in 2022 in the back of a car while they were on an official trip in the South Island, when Hipkins was police minister in the Labour government. And, Mark Mitchell is pushing back big time on Coster's claim that he knew earlier than 6 November last year. On Newstalk ZB this morning, he said Coster's claims were “absolute nonsense”. He said this morning - as he has since the Independent Police Conduct Authority report came out last month - that he first became aware on 6 November 2024, when Andrew Coster was told by the Public Service Commission to brief him on the situation. Mitchell says he didn't buy Coster's narrative that McSkimming was the victim. He says he's a father and that he pushed as much as he could as a minister to make sure the woman at the centre of all this was looked after. So it's “he says-he says”. But Andrew Coster has no evidence to prove his allegations so I can't believe him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exclusive interview: Former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster resigned as the head of the Social Investment Agency this week, after a scathing report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority. . Coster and several other former senior officers were singled out for mishandling sexual misconduct complaints regarding former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who was subsequently found to be accessing child exploitation and bestiality images on his work computer. . Coster told Q+A's Jack Tame he was wrong to trust Jevon McSkimming but he always acted honestly and in good faith. He claims senior figures knew more about the McSkimming case than they have said publicly — something these parties dispute. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

Police Minister Mark Mitchell says trust needs to be regained after the Independent Police Conduct Authority found there were "significant failings" in the way police responded to complaints about former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. . Q+A asked him why allegations weren't raised in his office earlier and whether there were wider structural issues at play. . Mitchell spoke of a “corrupt Police executive" in the interview, then later walked back on his comments. . He said in a statement: “Regarding my comments on corruption, I acknowledge that the IPCA report did not use the words corrupt or corruption and on reflection I misspoke. Like most New Zealanders, I am personally disgusted by the behaviour highlighted in the IPCA report.” . The IPCA report did find that in handling complaints McSkimming, Police bypassed standard processes. Although they didn't find evidence of collusion, they did find senior officers — including the former Commissioner — attempted to rush investigations to help McSkimming's application for commissioner and failed to recognise the inappropriateness of their actions. . Join Jack Tame and the Q+A team and find the answers to the questions that matter. Made with the support of NZ on Air.

A shocking report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority has revealed a litany of serious failings in the handling of complaints relating to the disgraced former deputy commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Not only were the complaints from a former lover diverted from the appropriate channels by senior leaders including former police boss Andrew Coster, the woman involved was arrested and prosecuted for harmful digital communications. The new commissioner and the police minister insist that it is a failure of a small group of senior leaders – “bad apples”, as Mark Mitchell put it – rather than something systemic or cultural. But, ask Annabelle Lee-Mather, Ben Thomas and Toby Manhire, almost 20 years after the damning Margaret Bazley report that followed the Louise Nicholas case, is that explanation good enough? Plus: Parliament has two newly independent MPs, following the Te Pāti Māori National Council expelling Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Takuta Ferris “for breaches of Kawa (the Party's constitution)”. As the implosion in the party deepens, a number of questions remain unanswered. Christopher Luxon and Winston Peters are exchanging blows over asset sales – is this a fracture in the coalition, an exercise in nostalgia, or two bald men (apologies Mr Peters, this is very much a metaphor) fighting over a comb? And changes to the Zero Carbon Act were announced with zero fanfare – what does it mean for New Zealand climate action and Paris commitments? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"Everyone can see now just how bad it was". Those were the words of Police Minister Mark Mitchell who revealed that emails containing allegations about Jevon McSkimming's behaviour were kept from him by former police commissioner Andrew Coster's office. Coster is named in a scathing report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority into former deputy police commissioner Jevon McSkimming. The report found a group of high-ranking police officers failed to properly act on accusations of sexual offending against McSkimming. Kate Green reports.

If you've heard any news at all today, you'll be aware the Independent Police Conduct Authority has released a report into the Police's handling of complaints about former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming McSkimming hit the news earlier this year when he resigned from his post. At the time Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the allegations against him were "of a very serious nature". McSkimming was subsequently charged and pleaded guilty to possessing objectionable material on his work laptop. But it turns out there was much more to this story, and the investigation into McSkimming, than that. Here to explain all the ins and outs of this case is RNZ political reporter Giles Dexter.

Bemusement at the actions of past senior police executives and their handling of serious complaints against the former Deputy Commissioner. A damming Independent Police Conduct Authority report's found a the allegations against Jevon McSkimming - who was gunning for the top job - were not immediately investigated. The complainant was then charged with harassment. Lawyer and former police officer Matthew Hague says it's possible those at the top thought they were doing the wrong thing for the right reasons. "I can't understand how these senior, experienced, trusted leaders thought this would withstand scrutiny." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whatever you thought of Andrew Coster as Police Commissioner, you probably felt you could trust him to do the right thing. To be upfront, honest, and certainly not hide stuff. And if you thought the attitude within the Police towards women had changed from what it used to be – well you might be having a bit of a re-think on both of those. Because I certainly am after this damning report by the Independent Police Conduct Authority on the way Police handled accusations of sexual offending by former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. It's become a bit of a cliche in recent times to describe reports as “damning”, but there's no doubt how damning this one is. It is so damning that we had the Police Minister and the current Police Commissioner doing a live media conference at six o'clock last night as soon as the report came out. And no wonder. Because, in my mind, this could prove to be one of New Zealand's biggest public sector scandals. And it tells me that despite all the talk from the Police after the experience of Louise Nicholas back in the 1980s with cops involved in sexual misconduct, it seems the memo about a culture change hasn't yet reached some of the top brass either still working there or who worked there until very recently. Including Andrew Coster. Let me quote a comment in the IPCA report from one of the country's most senior adult sexual assault investigators. Named in the report as “Officer D”, they said: “You know what's the worst thing – if you make a mistake, the only worse thing that you can do is then cover it up. You can paint all sorts of nice words but to an outsider looking in, and I mean even me, this looks like a cover-up." So what happened is Jevon McSkimming got into a relationship with a woman in her early 20s. He was in his early 40s. After that, she started writing dozens of emails to the police, accusing Deputy Commissioner McSkimming of being a sexual predator. But instead of investigating the allegations, the emails were used by police as evidence to prosecute her under the Harmful Digital Communications Act last year. All of that overseen by Andrew Coster. His successor, Richard Chambers, is livid. He says there were about five or six senior leaders in the Police —including Coster— who were responsible for what looks to me like a cover up. Some are still with the Police, others aren't. The Commissioner says these people were too quick to believe that the complainant was a spurned woman out for revenge. As for Andrew Coster, how ironic is this comment he made when he was commissioner? He said: “We rely on the support of most of the community to be successful and that depends on the way we operate and on the extent to which people feel that they can trust us and that what we're doing is appropriate.” Oh really? Coster, these days, is chief executive of the Government's Social Investment Agency. He's on leave at the moment. But now that we know what we know, should he be allowed to stay on the government payroll? I'm in no doubt that he shouldn't. Because he presided over what I think could prove to be one of New Zealand's biggest public sector scandals. And, for that reason and that reason alone, he should be toast. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It can now be revealed child exploitation and beastiality material were allegedly found on former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming's work devices. McSkimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop in May amid separate investigations by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood spoke to Melissa Chan-Green.

A 24 year old woman has shared her identity in order to talk publicly about an inappropriate relationship she was involved in with a police officer. Alex McPhail earlier spoke to the Herald anonymously about her relationship with Christchurch-based detective Luke Fazackerley, who she met when she was 22 and reporting a rape to police. She complained about his behaviour to the Independent Police Conduct Authority, a complaint that has now been re-opened after the Herald reporting. Today on The Front Page, NZ Herald reporter Katie Harris, who has covered Alex’s case, is with us to discuss why this particular case is making waves on both sides of the Tasman – and we’ll hear from Alex in her own words about what she experienced. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host/Sound Engineer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan Sills See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I've surprised myself a little bit with my reaction to the news the police are looking at introducing body cameras. Generally, I'm all for it. But the civil liberties people have raised some very good points about them being misused. One example they're giving is the potential for the cameras to be combined with facial recognition technology. Which I'm torn on, after finding out about facial recognition being used at the Richmond Club, in Christchurch, to keep an eye on people using the pokie machines. They're are asking how we're going to know - once police start wearing body cameras - when an officer is filming and when they're not. Is there a chance, for example, that you or I might be walking down the street and get filmed by the cops walking towards us? Which is why the head of New Zealand's civil liberties council is saying that there needs to be robust policies in place before any officer starts going around the place wearing one of these things. The bit Thomas Beagle is concerned about most, is the lines between body cameras and facial recognition getting blurred. He's saying: “Suddenly, it turns footage into data of who was where, what their names are, and what they were doing. In a way, that's really quite worrying and can be put together to build up the surveillance society.” So he wants clear, robust policies in place. Policies which make it clear, for example, who will be able to access any footage captured on the body cameras. He says if we're going to bring-in body cameras, we may need to look at the idea of having someone independent deciding when footage is released and who it's released to. He reckons that could be a job for the Independent Police Conduct Authority, making the very good point that the cameras not only need to serve the police well - but they also need to serve the public well. And that's the bit that has probably surprised me a bit. That I'm not as holus-bolus enthusiastic about police body cameras as maybe I expected myself to be. The civil liberties people are spot on - referring to cases overseas where police have refused to release body camera footage when officers have been accused of things like misconduct. I've also been reading a BBC report which talks about other ways these things have been misused. Or abused. It reports more than 150 examples of camera misuse by police in England and Wales. For example, officers turning the cameras off when they've been dealing forcefully with someone. Giving someone the old heave-ho. You know: “I'll just turn this thing off for a minute while we give this turkey what he deserves.” The BBC has also discovered cases where police have deleted footage and even shared footage with other officers on WhatsApp. But, before you think I've gone totally civil liberties on it - I'm all for the police wearing body cameras. For many reasons. For starters - it's crazy that security officers and parking wardens can wear them, but police can't. And, even though there are a truckload of examples of these cameras being misused, you could say the same about any bad police behaviour. There are dodgy cops everywhere - but that doesn't mean we get rid of the police. And, as police commissioner Richard Chambers is saying today, New Zealand is one of the few countries not using them. He says body cameras are great for gathering evidence and they're great for keeping staff safe. So he's going to have people working on options over the next 12 months and, hopefully, by that time - they'll be ready to press go. I see Chris Cahill from the police association is a bit worried about the cost. He's saying that some countries are getting rid of them because of how much it costs to store the footage. And, not surprisingly, he doesn't want to see the spending on body cameras meaning there's less money to be spent on frontline officers and police vehicles. He says: “It isn't the game changer that we thought it might be, but it has certainly got significant benefits and many officers in Australia don't want to deploy without it.” But all up, when I consider what Chris Cahill is saying about the cameras not being the silver bullet and the many cases overseas of these things being misused, I still think is a great move by the police commissioner. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Only a few weeks after he had reportedly been in contention for the country’s top police job, deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming was suspended and put on leave. The Independent Police Conduct Authority and New Zealand Police were investigating, but the nature of the allegations could not be reported. Months went by without any developments. That was – until last week, when McSkimming resigned after allegations surfaced of “objectionable material” being found on his work computer. NZ Herald senior crime reporter Jared Savage broke the story back in December and joins us today on The Front Page to explain what is going on. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Host: Chelsea DanielsSound Engineer/Producer: Richard MartinProducer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A law expert says it was assault when a senior police officer hit his children with a belt. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found the North Island officer struck his three children multiple times, on their lower body. He admitted using his belt to 're-set' his kids - and has been censured by police for serious misconduct. Auckland University law professor Mark Henaghan says criminal proceedings couldn't go ahead because neither the parent or children would give evidence. "Liz Gunn just taps someone on the shoulder and gets charged with assault - this is hitting kids with a belt and nothing has happened." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Association says clarification around protest laws are long overdue. An Independent Police Conduct Authority report makes several recommendations for laws which would protect protestor rights and ensure public safety. One law would let police and local authorities set conditions in advance about how a protest may be carried out. Police Association President Chris Cahill told Mike Hosking that will be helpful for police and protesters alike. He says that would set clear guidelines for behaviour. Cahill says Destiny Church is a good example of a group which often steps over the line. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A police watchdog is suggesting the Government takes a closer look at laws for protestors outside private residences. An Independent Police Conduct Authority report makes several recommendations for laws which would protest protestor rights and ensure public safety. It raises the idea of a specific offence for picketing of private residences. IPCA chair, Judge Kenneth Johnston KC, says it's currently legal to protest outside someone's home - like the Prime Minister's. "Whether it should be or not is not a matter for us to determine, it's an issue that we've raised and identified what other countries do in that area - and no doubt, the Government of the day will give some consideration to it in the fullness of time." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found a police officer's fatal shooting of Taranaki man Kaoss Price in 2022 likely amounted to excessive force but has not filed charges. Te Pati Maori co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer spoke to Corin Dann.

Last week, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released its summary of police's handling of Farzana Yaqubi's complaints of a man stalking her, eight weeks before she was murdered in December 2022 by the same man.  The report found a litany of police failures in its handling, including that  its assessment matrix did not consider all lines of inquiry. New Zealand is one of the few countries that does not treat stalking as a crime. As a result of the IPCA's report and Yaqubi's death, many have called for this to change.  Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law, Carrie Leonetti, about current laws for stalking in Aotearoa, the importance of criminalising it, and what that could look like. 

Last week, the Independent Police Conduct Authority released its summary of police's handling of Farzana Yaqubi's complaints of a man stalking her, eight weeks before she was murdered in December 2022 by the same man.  The report found a litany of police failures in its handling, including that  its assessment matrix did not consider all lines of inquiry. New Zealand is one of the few countries that does not treat stalking as a crime. As a result of the IPCA's report and Yaqubi's death, many have called for this to change.  Producer Sofia Roger Williams spoke to Associate Professor at the University of Auckland Faculty of Law, Carrie Leonetti, about current laws for stalking in Aotearoa, the importance of criminalising it, and what that could look like. 

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that the system police use for stalking allegations isn't up to standard.  This is after the murder of a 21-year-old in Auckland who had reported to police eight weeks before her death that her killer was harassing her. The woman's file was inactive for six weeks after she made the report, then it was forwarded to another police station. It was not progressed further before she died. Ruth Money is a Victims Advocate and told Heather du Plessis-Allan she is 'horrified' by the outcome.  LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A man was fatally shot by police on the afternoon of Thursday February 15 after fleeing a police stop and threatening a parent and child with a firearm. Police say they stopped the man just after midday on Ulster Street in Hamilton. The driver fled and later crashed in the Matamata-Piako area, more than 50 kilometres away. He was then shot by police after threatening a parent and their child. The Independent Police Conduct Authority will be notified and a Critical Incident Investigation is underway. RNZ reporter Maia Ingoe spoke to Ingrid Hipkiss.

Police could be apologising to some Parliament protesters following a report from the police watchdog. The Independent Police Conduct Authority found excessive force was six times during the weeks-long occupation. That included knocking a woman's phone from her hand and pushing her to the ground - or spraying people with fire extinguishers. Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming says they'll work through whether they'll need say sorry. "And in probably a couple of those cases, an apology would be appropriate." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A few days before last Xmas, Louise (not her real name) gave a thumbs down signal to a police officer. What followed has lead to her heading to court facing four charges, and has left her seriously traumatised. The Independent Police Conduct Authority are looking into her case but it once again raises the issue of justifiable force vs 'police to peace'. How hard is it for our police officers to get the balance right? Could this happen to any of us?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Being targeted by scam artists is becoming more common by the day.  Cyber fraud, often led by international cartels, has been able to grow to such an extent that everybody has a story of a message or odd phone call that was aiming to take advantage of them.  It isn't helping that Police in New Zealand are under-resourced and not focused on this type of crime, with a report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority finding a “vacuum in national leadership on fraud.”  So how can we take digital fraud seriously, and is it something that our political parties are even thinking of?  Crime expert Dr Jarrod Gilbert, a sociologist at the University of Canterbury and Director of Independent Research Solutions, is calling for change in how we police cyber fraud. Follow The Front Page on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network. Guest host: Chelsea DanielsProducer: Shaun D WilsonExecutive Producer: Ethan SillsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is reviewing 162 complaints stemming from anti-trans activist Posie Parker's 'Let Women Speak' rally earlier this year. Kellie-Jay Keen-Minshull, also known as Posie Parker, abandoned her New Zealand tour citing safety concerns after being assaulted during her speech and seeing attacks among the crowd. The review will look at police conduct at the protest and planning for the event. The authority's chair Judge Kenneth Johnston spoke to Corin Dann.

As the Government celebrates its milestone of putting “1800 new police officers on the beat”, it can be revealed 270 of them don't have arrest powers and work predominantly within stations. Police Association president Chris Cahill and National police spokesman Mark Mitchell allege the Government has been misleading. “They're not what the public would call a police officer,” Cahill said. On June 1, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and Police Minister Ginny Andersen travelled to Porirua's police college to celebrate training 1800 new police officers since the Government came to power. The promise was made by the Labour and NZ First coalition in 2018 and has been repeatedly referred to as an investment in “frontline” staff. Former prime minister Jacinda Ardern previously told Parliament the 1800 officers would be “sworn”. But numbers provided to the Herald by police show 270 of the recruits are “authorised officers”, who legally do not have the power to arrest. Most of these 270 staff are known as “specialist crime investigators” and include those working in electronic crime or as forensic accountants. A November 2022 report from the Independent Police Conduct Authority said police were “failing to meet the challenges that the present fraud landscape poses”. Police said at the time that given the scale and nature of the fraud problem, prevention measures were of primary importance in reducing victimisation. According to the Policing Act, authorised officers are defined as police employees holding the roles of a station jailor, escort, guard, specialist investigator or transport enforcement officer. They wear black uniforms instead of blue. Training for authorised officers varies but typically is shorter and less intensive than the 16-week training course required for constabulary officers. There are just over 10,000 constabulary officers on the beat nationwide, supplemented by 525 authorised officers. More than half of the authorised officers - 270 - were established in the past five years under the 1800 new police plan. Fifty of them joined in May. Police Association president Chris Cahill. Photo / Mark Mitchell Cahill said while authorised officers were always part of the plans Cabinet agreed to in 2018, to call all new officers “frontline” and “on the beat” was misleading. “They're not frontline, they're not sworn officers, and they don't have the powers of arrest,” he said. “They're not what the public would call a police officer. “Without clarification, it is misleading. [The Government is] not breaching their agreement, but they need to be clear to the public that 270 of those are not sworn police officers. They're of great value - but they're not sworn.” Mitchell said Andersen and former police ministers Poto Williams and Hipkins “intentionally deceived and misled New Zealanders”. “Two-hundred-and-seventy of those included in the 1800 are not police officers. They don't have powers of arrest and are back-office workers with no presence or ability to respond to violent offending on our streets,” he said. “This is a deceptive and shabby way to treat New Zealanders, but consistent with this soft-on-crime Government's approach to public safety.” Andersen said the Government committed to an increase of 1800 additional constabulary staff, and this was met on June 1. When asked directly by NZME if labelling all 1800 new officers as “frontline” was misleading, she replied: “The Government's commitment has always included authorised officers. This was set out in the initial Cabinet paper in 2018, which has been released publicly.” National MP Mark Mitchell said the government has deceived New Zealanders. Photo / Mark Mitchell “The authorised officer designation was established in 2008 under the Policing Act. They've been included in constabulary numbers since then, including during the National Government, who counted them as constabulary for the nine years it was in government,” Andersen said. She said the work these officers would do, such as in high-tech crime, often required experience that was hard to get in existing constabulary employees. Andersen is not the first MP to be accused of misrepresenting figures in recent months. In March, Te Whatu Ora apologised after numbers shared by Health Minister Ayesha Verrall were found to be inaccurate. National's health spokesman Shane Reti also faced criticism after Verrall accused him of misrepresenting data to make it appear the health system had lost a sizeable chunk of its staff. Growing demand for frontline police As reports of retail and violent crime increase, Cahill said that demand for frontline officers had grown significantly. “The world is quite different from 2017. We clearly have a demand from the public for more frontline, visible policing. The increase in the demand for police over that time is dramatic. The public wants to see more blue shirts on the street.” According to police data, reports of retail crime have increased 60 per cent since 2017. While the increase could be explained by changes to reporting methods, other sources such as supermarket giant Foodstuffs have reported a 37 per cent jump in retail crime. Reported victimisations for violent offending have also risen sharply since 2017. The frequency of ram raids has increased in recent months. Photo / Hayden Woodward One of the hallmark law and order policies of the Government, the boost in policing numbers was born out of Budget 2017 when the then National Government pledged to increase the force by 880 constabulary officers. By Budget 2018, the Labour and NZ First Government had come to power and promised to boost the existing plans by a further 670 constabulary officers and 250 authorised officers. There are currently 10,184 constabulary officers and 525 authorised officers, making up the total force of 10,709. Ethan Griffiths covers crime and justice stories nationwide. He joined NZME in 2020, previously working as a regional reporter in Whanganui and South Taranaki.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have been criticised for failing to adequately respond to allegations of sexual abuse from recruits. Police trainees made seven complaints over a period of 15 years about a Police Medical Officer who conducted routine examinations on recruits. The Independent Police Conduct Authority says police failed to act, and continued sending recruits to the doctor, despite the complaints. It was not until a formal complaint was made in 2017 that police launched a criminal investigation. That found there was insufficient evidence to charge the doctor. The IPCA says given the complaints spanned 15 years - police should have acted sooner. Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura talks to Susana Lei'ataua.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found an officer was not justified in shooting a man dead in Auckland in February 2021. Tangaru-Noere Turia, a 34-year-old 501-deportee from Australia, died after being shot three times. He had been holed up in a house for a number of hours before coming out with a shotgun. The IPCA said the officer who shot Turia three times, gave him no time to comply with the request to drop his weapon.

There were failings, but overall police served the public well in the face of "extreme provocation" at the Parliament protest last year. However in releasing its findings, the Independent Police Conduct Authority says police were put at unnecessary risk in a situation that could've proved fatal. There were some serious criticisms of police leadership when it came to planning, communication, training and protective gear for officers. RNZ political editor Jane Patterson and cameraman Angus Dreaver have the story.

The top cop says Police planned for the Parliament protests last year to the best of their ability. The Independent Police Conduct Authority review of how police handled the occupation is out. Overall, it found police served the public well, but the watchdog has made 14 recommendations for improvement. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Tim Dower it's a 'one in 40 year' incident. "How you maintain a high-level of readiness for the extreme event, when what you deal with day to day is a different set of circumstances and that will always be a challenge." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Police Commissioner says sending in officers without hard body armour to end the anti-mandate protest at Parliament last year was a fine balance, but he stands by it. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has today released its report, finding overall police served the public well. Commissioner Andrew Coster says the day started with 300 protesters, but ended with only about 100 rioting. "If we'd had rioting with 300, we would not have successfully ended that situation. So I stand by that decision, it was very, very unfortunate that we had inadequate equipment for our people." LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority today released their report on the response to 2022's Parliamentary protest. The report found that police overall acted appropriately throughout the 23-day occupation, but found that officers were ill-prepared to remove the protestors and lacked sufficient protective gear. ZB's senior political correspondent Barry Soper says Police Commissioner Andrew Coster didn't come out looking good following the release of this report. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I doubt that many of us will ever forget the protest action that took place for three weeks on the grounds of Parliament that began in February last year, lasting 23 days.  Apart from the Springbok tour protests back in 1981 that lasted 56 days, I've not seen that level of barbaric, dishevelled and uncivilised behaviour in our society before.  The protest in Wellington last year was hard to watch and even harder to stop watching.  I'm hoping I never see it again, but given the false prophets that maraud maliciously amongst the vulnerable through the internet and organisations claiming to be churches, the reality is likely to be different.  The 200 page Independent Police Conduct Authority report that was released yesterday shows that the police handled the situation well faced with extreme provocation.   I wonder how many police have rethought their career, given the very poor direction given by senior staff who took too long to decide the best plan of action, tip-toeing around the parliamentary rose gardens and being overly sensitive to the baffled and bewildered assembling, many just looking for a fight.   Another fault identified by the report is the lack of adequate law that determines what police can do in situations like this. Once again, pointing to our very inadequate and antiquated judicial system.   I have great respect for our police. They were faced with a mob of whom 300 were eventually given criminal charges and there wasn't enough of the right equipment for the job they had to do.   Police officers are just as entitled to be supplied with the correct equipment to do the job as you or me, depending on the job that we do under health and safety laws.  The difference between doctors, nurses, teachers, and other professions pushing for better conditions and pay increases, is that you rarely hear anything from the police.   Sadly, the numbers that leave, say it at all.   We expect to be safe, and to be kept safe in our communities. Anyone still opposed to the action taken by the police in Wellington last year, needs to remember just how vile and volatile the situation was.   Here's hoping that the best outcome from yesterday's report, is that the pressing need for the police to be equipped for every possibility and some tweaking of the laws required for them to do it - is addressed at speed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The police watchdog's report into the force's handling of last year's protest and three-week occupation of parliament will be released later this morning. The Independent Police Conduct Authority's report, which is strictly embargoed until 10 o'clock, runs to more than 200 pages. It addresses complaints about how police handled the protest, and makes recommendations. [picture id="4LU0W0M_image_crop_141078" crop="16x10" layout="full"] Hamish Cardwell reports.

Outrage after the police watchdog declared Police weren't in the wrong when they didn't respond to a 111 call over Mongrel Mob members at Christchurch Hospital. Anne-Maree Thomas was in hospital for her 15-year-old's cancer treatment when she called Police four times over gang members threatening staff and guarding hospital entrances. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has written to Thomas saying Police didn't respond because no offences were committed -- and there weren't any officers available to attend. Anne-Maree Thomas joined Simon Barnett & James Daniels on the show. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you've been to Christchurch Hospital anytime recently, chances are you've come across gang members either inside the building or outside in the car park area. I was there the other week and there were four Mongrel Mob guys out in the car park. But that was nothing compared to what I saw about 18 months ago when I was visiting the hospital daily for about a week. There were Mongrel Mob guys all over the place. I could see them up in the Intensive Care area and they seemed to be on patrol out in the car park. Granted, they never said anything to me or threatened me in any way. But I reckon you'd have to be pretty hard not to, at least, feel intimidated. And this is what the mum of a 15-year-old boy was confronted with at Christchurch Hospital late last year when her son was there as part of his cancer treatment. He was having surgery and these Mongrel Mob guys were all over the place - refusing to wear masks inside in the intensive care waiting area, and generally being menacing. She says they were threatening hospital staff, “guarding” entrances (as if they have a right to do that), and even blocking-off public car parks. And because of her son's compromised immunity, because of the cancer and the cancer treatment, this mum was really unhappy that these guys were running roughshod over everything and so, when it seemed hospital staff weren't doing anything about it, she called the police. Not one time. Not two times. But four times. And each time , the Police refused to turn up. So we had gang members making the place their own, not giving a damn about anyone else, threatening people and blocking off areas, but no-show from the cops. And, as if her experience at the hospital wasn't bad enough, she's now been told by the Independent Police Conduct Authority that the Police did nothing wrong by not turning up. She pleaded with them to come and sort the situation out. But they didn't. Apparently, the fact no actual offences were being committed and that hospital staff didn't think a police response was warranted was enough for the Authority to support the decision made by the police not to respond to Anne-Marie's calls for help. Which, if we're going to look at this in a very black and white way, is probably technically correct. But you would have thought, wouldn't you, that a hospital - of all places - would be somewhere where you wouldn't split hairs. And if gang members were there behaving in a way that you or I certainly wouldn't get away with, then surely the cops could have - should have - turned up and told these guys to pull their heads in. But they didn't. Hospitals are stressful places. They're full of great people doing amazing work, but they are stressful places. And no one has the right to run roughshod over other people at a hospital. I don't have the right to do that - and I don't expect it. You don't have the right - and you don't expect it. And gang members don't have the right - but they expect it. In fact, they don't just expect it. They assume it - and, it seems, they are free to get away with it, because the Police let them away with it back in December when this mum's son was in hospital for cancer surgery. And now the Police Conduct Authority has let them away with it, saying that the right decision was made not to respond because these clowns weren't actually breaking any laws and because hospital staff didn't think Police were needed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A “significant increase” in fleeing drivers along with a decrease in the number of offenders identified has led to the police's fleeing driver policy being changed again. Police commissioner Andrew Coster announced that the police pursuit policy would be reviewed next year and a Fleeing Driver Framework would be introduced. Police's pursuit policy changed in 2020 following a series of high-profile deaths. Coster said since the changes were introduced they had seen a significant increase in fleeing driver events and a significant decrease in the proportion of offenders identified. Data also shows a decrease in the number of fatalities during fleeing driver events. “We know there is a desire for change and a perception that offenders are more brazen and more willing to take risks with their driving behaviour,” said Coster. ”The revisions will bring us back to a more balanced position, while still prioritising the safety of officers and the public.” Coster says the Fleeing Driver Framework will provide clarity for staff on when a pursuit may be justified, including the weight given to the threat of further harm if the offenders are not apprehended immediately. Feedback on the revisions has been sought from Police staff as well as key partners including the Police Association, Independent Police Conduct Authority, and Children's Commissioner. “I believe the coming revisions will achieve more balance, accepting that there is no perfect solution,” he said. After the change to the policy in 2020, staff were told a pursuit was only justified when the threat posed by the vehicle prior to failing to stop, and the necessity to immediately apprehend the driver and or passengers, outweighed the risk of harm created by the pursuit. Investigations were preferred over the commencement or continuation of a pursuit. Police staff were informed of the further revisions to the policy on Monday in an email, seen by the Herald, from Coster. ”Since the change in December 2020, I know there has been feedback from staff and our communities that they would like to see a different balance. This is linked to the perception that offenders are more brazen and are taking more risks in their driving behaviour.” Data showed there had been a “significant increase” in fleeing driver events and a “significant decrease” in the proportion of offenders identified. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster. Photo / George Heard ”There was also a decrease in people being killed during fleeing driver events. The revisions will bring us back to a more balanced position, while still prioritising the safety of officers and the public.” Coster said police had engaged with front-line staff, communications centre commanders, district commanders as well as other agencies such as the IPCA, Children's Commissioner and Police Association. ”The policy changes will introduce a Fleeing Driver Framework which will provide clarity for staff on when a pursuit may be justified, including the weight given to the threat of further harm if the offenders are not apprehended immediately.” Implementation details were still being worked through, and further information would be released next year, he said. This would include new training. The policy would be introduced before the middle of next year, Coster anticipated. ”Fleeing driver events are volatile, unpredictable and high risk to everyone involved. This operational environment continues to be challenging for us to navigate.” Coster acknowledged there was “no perfect solution”. ”Drivers who choose not to pull over for Police when instructed put themselves, our staff and the public at risk. “The one thing that will always remain at the forefront of this policy is an acknowledgement of that risk and that safety must always come first.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found major failings in the way police are responding to the growing number of fraud complaints, and that they need a fundamental overhaul of how they investigate fraud. In New Zealand banks only reimburse customers for unauthorised use of their accounts, but if people are scammed and are tricked into giving their permission to transfer large sums of cash, they're on their own. So what role for banks here? Erica Penney is the Banking Ombudsman systems manager and joins us nowSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Police have been criticised for the way they're responding to the growing number of fraud complaints. The Independent Police Conduct Authority says there are major failings in the way police act and believes there needs to be a fundamental overhaul of their processes. Kirsty Frame has the story.

Major deficiencies have been found in Police responses to fraud complaints. An Independent Police Conduct Authority report has exposed a number of problems - deriving from Police wrongly viewing fraud as having low importance or little impact. Police Association president Chris Cahill says  it's not often he'd agree with the IPCA, but he agrees with this. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Questions to Ministers BROOKE VAN VELDEN to the Minister of Health: Does he stand by his statement regarding workforce shortages in the health sector that "there is stuff we need to do in the short term around recruitment … and then there is long term stuff, attracting people into the health services, doing the additional training"; if so, does he have targets for how many medical professionals need to be brought into the health sector through recruitment or training, to fix the workforce shortage? SORAYA PEKE-MASON to the Minister for Sport and Recreation: What support has the Government provided for the Women's Rugby World Cup? CHRIS BISHOP to the Prime Minister: Does she stand by all of her Government's statements and actions? ARENA WILLIAMS to the Minister of Justice: What changes will be made to improve the anti-money laundering and countering financial terrorism regime? ERICA STANFORD to the Associate Minister of Education (School Operations): Why are less than 40 percent of students attending school regularly, and what impact, if any, has declining attendance had on student achievement in literacy and numeracy? NAISI CHEN to the Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs: What announcement has he made about increasing competition in the banking sector? MELISSA LEE to the Minister for Broadcasting and Media: Does he stand by all the Government's views and actions regarding Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media? TAMATI COFFEY to the Minister for Trade and Export Growth: What recent reports has he seen on New Zealand's sustainable trade? Hon JACQUI DEAN to the Minister of Conservation: Does she stand by all of her statements and actions? RICARDO MENÉNDEZ MARCH to the Minister of Immigration: Is he confident that current visa settings reflect New Zealand's relationship with the Pacific? IBRAHIM OMER to the Minister of Customs: What announcements has she made about a modernised border experience for travellers? RAWIRI WAITITI to the Minister of Police: Does he stand by his statement that he "wouldn't take off the table the potential for Parliament to take further action to support the police" in response to a report released by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Privacy Commissioner in September, which found photos and fingerprints of five youth in Wairarapa were taken by police illegally?

A report just issued by the privacy watchdog and the Independent Police Conduct Authority has found police are routinely and illegally photographing and videoing children and adults. That's just one of the findings in the bombshell joint inquiry that has revealed systemic problems with the way police take, store and use people's private biometric information. RNZ Maori News Editor Jamie Tahana explains the background and the main findings.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority will get a $3.5 million boost in its funding to carry out its inquiry into the anti-mandate protest at parliament. The police watchdog received nearly 1900 complaints about the police response. National says giving the IPCA more money doesn't answer its questions about the need for a wider inquiry. National's Justice spokesperson Paul Goldsmith spoke to Corin Dann.

The National Party wants more investigation into the 23-day protest at Parliament.The Independent Police Conduct Authority announced last week there will be an investigation, but the Government has no plans to do one of its own.National Party Justice Spokesperson Paul Goldsmith told Andrew Dickens the IPCA is focused on the behaviour and handling of Police.“But it's a much wider issue, of course. We want to know what the Speaker got up to, what we've learnt in terms of Parliament security, how it all came about.”LISTEN ABOVE

RNZ investigative journalist Guyon Espiner explains to The Detail the secretive the workings of our police watchdog, the Independent Police Conduct Authority. 

The police watchdog, the Independent Police Conduct Authority, admits it doesn't have the resources to do its job properly. The IPCA is struggling to cope as complaints against the police have risen nearly 65 per cent in the last three years. An RNZ investigative series into police shootings has raised more fundamental questions about the IPCA, including why it isn't subject to the Official Information Act, and whether it has the power and independence to hold police to account. Guyon Espiner reports.

The America's Cup regatta goes to Barcelona, Transmission Gully is officially opened today but you'll not be able to drive on it until tomorrow, the police watchdog, the Independent Police Conduct Authority, admits it doesn't have the resources to do its job properly, and peace talks between Ukraine and Russia take place in Istanbul.

Police tactics used at the recent Parliamentary protest are under review. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has received nearly 1900 complaints about the police's handling of the occupation. It will now carry out a lengthy investigation into police actions and how they balanced the rights of protesters with the rights of other people. Police Association president Chris Cahill spoke to Corin Dann.

Police officers involved in fatal shootings have been allowed to view evidence before being questioned by detectives conducting homicide inquiries into the killings. Police say they have now changed this policy but the Independent Police Conduct Authority says it was only stopped last year because they threatened to stop cooperating with homicide inquiries if officers were briefed before being interviewed. The head of the the IPCA and the Police Commissioner are at odds over whether officers should receive special treatment in homicide inquiries following police shootings. Farah Hancock and Guyon Espiner have been investigating as part of RNZ's investigative series License to Kill. Here's Guyon Espiner.

Police officers under investigation for fatal shootings have been allowed to view evidence before being questioned by detectives. Police say this policy has now changed, but the Independent Police Conduct Authority says that only happened after it refused to cooperate with police homicide inquiries, unless they stopped briefing officers in advance. No officer has ever had charges laid against them by their colleagues following a homicide investigation. Police Commissioner Andrew Coster told Guyon Espiner he's satisfied police are fit to investigate their own.

Australian-born farm worker Allen Ball died on a holding cell floor after consuming a mix of pharmaceutical drugs and spirits. Police assumed he was a drunk and sleeping it off. Now, an Independent Police Conduct Authority report has found he could still be alive had they provided him medical care. Our Taranaki Whanganui reporter Robin Martin has more.

A top investigator says the public should be worried about road safety in light of a scathing report into the police's mishandling of towtrucks. The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found police were aware for years of unsafe operations on Auckland motorways - but did nothing. Phil Pennington reports.

The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found police were aware for years of non-compliance in heavy vehicle towing contractors, but failed to do anything about it. Assistant Police Commissioner Bruce O'Brien spoke to Susie Ferguson.

RNZ is challenging a reporting ban which effectively prevents media publishing any information about the fatal police shooting of Rotorua man Shargin Stephens. Lawyers acting for the public broadcaster have filed papers in the Hamilton High Court asking judges to review a prohibition order by Coroner JP Ryan. Coroner Ryan issued the interim order last month after an RNZ investigation revealed discrepancies between the police's homicide inquiry into the shooting and the evidence police gave the Independent Police Conduct Authority.

The New Zealand police put 38 teenagers into restraint chairs between 2015 and 2020 - the youngest just 13 years old. Restraint chairs leg, waist, wrist and chest straps to immobilise a person deemed a serious risk to themselves or others. The Chair of the Independent Police Conduct Authority says the organisation hasn't received any complaints stemming from the incidents involving the teenagers. But Judge Colin Doherty says in adult cases, restraint chairs are generally used on people undergoing a mental health crisis, displaying extreme violent behaviour. He told youth affairs reporter Katie Doyle police are more often the first responders to mental health crisis callouts.

The New Zealand police put 38 teenagers into restraint chairs between 2015 and 2020 - the youngest just 13 years old. Restraint chairs leg, waist, wrist and chest straps to immobilise a person deemed a serious risk to themselves or others. The Chair of the Independent Police Conduct Authority says the organisation hasn't received any complaints stemming from the incidents involving the teenagers. But Judge Colin Doherty says in adult cases, restraint chairs are generally used on people undergoing a mental health crisis, displaying extreme violent behaviour. He told youth affairs reporter Katie Doyle police are more often the first responders to mental health crisis callouts.

The police watchdog is reopening its inquiry into the fatal shooting of Rotorua man Shargin Stephens by an officer. The Independent Police Conduct Authority says it will now take an "in-depth review" of the 2016 case, after RNZ revealed significant discrepancies in the official story of the police shooting. Guyon Espiner has the latest.  

The Independent Police Conduct Authority is considering reopening its inquiry into the police shooting of Rotorua man Shargin Stephens. Stephens was shot and killed after smashing up a police car with a weed slasher. It comes as RNZ has uncovered yet more holes in the IPCA report into the 2016 death of the 35-year-old Māori man, which found police actions were justified. The IPCA has also admitted today that it has known for some time that a section of video was missing from police taser camera footage taken right before the shooting - an issue that was entirely absent from its report. Guyon Espiner has the new developments.

The official version of how police came to shoot a Māori man in Rotorua is contradicted by the police's own investigation of the shooting.  Shargin Stephens was shot and killed in 2016 after smashing up an empty police car with a weed slasher.  A year later an Independent Police Conduct Authority report said police actions were justified.   Four years on and the Stephens whanau are still battling for a full coroner's inquest into his death. Now an RNZ investigation shows the IPCA was not told the full story about police actions. For more than a month before Stephens lashed out and was shot, police made constant late night bail checks on Stephens, arriving as late as 2 and 3am.    RNZ has also obtained a report by a digital imaging expert which says a seven second chunk of video taken right before the shooting is missing from police taser camera footage, raising questions about whether police have edited the video. Guyon Espiner has been investigating. He spoke to Corin Dann.

The official version of how police came to shoot a Māori man in Rotorua is contradicted by the police's own investigation of the shooting.  Shargin Stephens was shot and killed in 2016 after smashing up an empty police car with a weed slasher.  A year later an Independent Police Conduct Authority report said police actions were justified.   Four years on and the Stephens whanau are still battling for a full coroner's inquest into his death. Now an RNZ investigation shows the IPCA was not told the full story about police actions. For more than a month before Stephens lashed out and was shot, police made constant late night bail checks on Stephens, arriving as late as 2 and 3am.    RNZ has also obtained a report by a digital imaging expert which says a seven second chunk of video taken right before the shooting is missing from police taser camera footage, raising questions about whether police have edited the video. Guyon Espiner has been investigating. He spoke to Corin Dann.

Te Pāti Māori claims it has been snubbed by Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, leaving the co-leaders disgusted and disappointed.But police say the Commissioner gave notice that he couldn't attend today's meeting, is looking to reschedule for later this week, and that Detective Superintendent Greg Nicholls still met with the party's MPs today.Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Packer said they had been given assurances of a meeting with Coster today to discuss how police deal with threats towards Māori, and police officers' disproportionate treatment of Māori."For the Commissioner not to show up and to do a complete no-show on Te Pāti Māori is disgusting," Ngarewa-Packer said."It tells us exactly how he sees it and we couldn't be more disappointed. It shows us exactly how serious - or not - the Commissioner, the highest level in the police, is treating racism and white supremacist attacks towards tangata whenua."And we didn't even get notification he wasn't showing up."A police spokesperson disputes this, saying Coster gave notice that he wouldn't be able to attend the meeting today.Te Pāti Māori has accused police of double standards over the differences in how it dealt with death threats against Māori and death threats against National MP Simeon Brown.Last week the party lodged a complaint with the Independent Police Conduct Authority, alleging that police had failed to properly investigate a racist threat targeting the party's co-leaders.It followed a YouTube video - since taken down - that made specific threats towards Ngarewa-Packer and Waititi, and Māori people in general.The party had lodged a complaint with police on a Monday, but didn't hear back from police until the Wednesday of that week.A police spokesperson said in a statement: "Detective Superintendent Greg Nicholls met with MPs this afternoon to provide an update on their investigation, and to outline the timeline of events before an arrest was made in relation to a video."A spokesperson for the Office of the Commissioner was apologetic for inconvenience of a change in schedule, and had asked to reschedule as early as later this week. He was looking forward to meeting with MPs."The party co-leaders have asked for a joint taskforce across Government to investigate anti-Māori hate speech from white supremacist organisations.Ngarewa-Packer said they were seeking assurances from Coster that he was addressing issues of "systemic racism" in police, as well as how police were dealing with threats made against tangata whenua in recent weeks.Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi said Coster's no-show added more emphasis to the need for change within the police force."We're really disappointed at the way we've been treated through this whole process. We've been putting pressure on this Government and the Minister of Police about the racial profiling of Māori, and the way we're treated within the system."Today was a prime example of how Māori are actually treated ... The very top needs to lead by example."Waititi said they had sought and been assured of a meeting with Coster after Police Minister Poto Williams kept saying police behaviour towards Māori was an operational issue."Here was our opportunity to actually to see what was happening in an operational part of police - and they didn't turn up. So we're really, really disappointed."Asked for their message to Coster, Ngarewa-Packer said: "You should have showed up."Added Waititi: "Where were you?"text by Derek Cheng, NZ Herald

Te Pāti Māori is accusing the police of having double standards when dealing with death threats made against Pakeha and Māori.  The Party has lodged an official complaint to the Independent Police Conduct Authority over the investigation into a video posted online by a white supremacist, threatening to kill Maori and targeting Marae. Police have received multiple complaints about the video, which was taken down last week. The Māori Party says the police response has been inadequate as the person responsible was spoken to but not seen as a threat because of mental health problems Co-leader Rawiri Waititi says in contrast two people have been arrested over threats made to National MP Simeon Brown.  He told political reporter Charlie Dreaver that's not good enough.  In a statement, the police say they acknowledge the concerns raised.  They say the matter is being taken very seriously and officiers have been actively investigating, including searching property. Because the case is still active, they won't comment further. 

A law expert says claims by Police that officers did not know they were breaking the law when they used roadblocks to get information on gang members, doesn't stack up. Last week the Independent Police Conduct Authority found officers illegally detained a woman and photographed her and her partner at a checkpoint in Northland in 2019. Northland District Commander Tony Hill told RNZ reporter Jordan Bond that while the tactic has been used for year, officers didn't know they weren't following the law. But University of Otago Law Professor, Andrew Geddis, says police were told a year before the Northland operation that they could not use Land Transport laws as a ruse to gather intelligence. Professor Geddis spoke to Corin Dann.

Nepotism, cronyism and gaslighting have contributed to pockets of toxic culture in New Zealand police, a new report into bullying and abuse has found.Despite issuing scathing criticisms and outlining stories of abuse and harassment, the Independent Police Conduct Authority said recent police reforms show promise.Two interviewees said when they were out in the field and radioed for immediate backup because they were at risk, bully officers failed to provide backup."The interviewees subsequently verified that these other officers had been in radio contact and not involved in any other urgent job," the IPCA added.One interviewee said a photograph of her and a friend topless was copied without consent from her computer by a male colleague, who then circulated it to all his male colleagues."There is a core group of people that made life really sh**," another interviewee said when describing the bullying."There were people sitting in the background who wouldn't speak up against it."Another said a sycophantic, complicit culture was a bad formula for finding competent leaders."The way you get noticed is you bring baubles to the king, and you do that by standing on other people, right? And that's the pervading culture."IPCA chairman Judge Colin Doherty said the review was initiated in 2019 after media reports of workplace bullying.The IPCA said interviews with more than 200 current and former staff showed virtually all interviewees had no confidence in existing mechanisms for addressing bullying.Thousands of police employees, or 40 per cent of the workforce, responded to a joint IPCA-police survey asking questions about the organisation's culture.A majority of respondents described police as a good place to work, but 40 per cent of those surveyed said they'd personally experienced poor behaviour.Hundreds of police surveyed said they'd experienced sustained bullying.The survey found some managers reportedly had an autocratic style, were narrow-minded, and intolerant of questioning or dissent."Some of those who reach senior positions develop a sense of entitlement that empowers them to treat people poorly," the report found.This arrogance sometimes filtered down to inspectors, senior sergeants and sergeants who expected staff to follow orders without question, the report added.The IPCA said punitive cultures and atmospheres of fear and acquiescence sometimes allowed bullying to be carried out with impunity.Parts of police had a so-called "boys' club" culture based on power relationships, perpetuated by allegiances, cliques, nepotism and cronyism, the IPCA said.Some leaders expected unconditional loyalty, surrounding themselves with unquestioning staff who did their bidding and did not challenge them, the report found.Sexist and racist behaviour was sometimes trivialised as "just having a laugh", the report added."This negative culture did not permeate every workplace," Judge Doherty said."The weight of evidence suggests it is likely confined to particular individuals, workplaces and police districts."The report found some workplaces had issues with managers who routinely shouted or swore at staff, routinely swore during meetings and ridiculed or undermined staff.Passive-aggressive behaviours including gaslighting, and "insidious" marginalisation such as cutting people out of meetings or giving them meaningless tasks was also identified.One interviewee describing sophisticated and underhanded bullying said: "I kept questioning myself, 'Is this happening?'"But the report had a word of warning for other Kiwi workplaces."Police are not unique in needing to adapt to changing values."The IPCA said the survey summary painted a bleak picture, but must be seen in a wider context."There are over 14,000 staff in police, and as with any other large organisation there will inevitably be pockets of poor values and bad behaviours."It said across society, workplace behaviour regarded as acceptable or tolerable 20 ye...

Seriously, why would you be a police officer?  You're damned if you do, damned if you don't. An Independent Police Conduct Authority report has slammed police who pursued a car load of teenagers, a car that ultimately ended up crashing into and killing a Christchurch man who was driving to work. The IPCA says the officers should not have started the pursuit and they should have abandoned the pursuit on multiple occasions. Now the Children's Commissioner Andrew Becroft says police should stop pursuing young drivers because the stakes are just too high.  Becroft says police policy should be changed to ensure no chases if police suspected a driver was under 18 because young brains hadn't developed enough to allow them to fully assess risks.  Unless it was a case of homicide or the risk of a very grave event. Well, what do you call a car full of tanked up young men in a speeding car? If allowing them to speed through city streets is not risking a very grave event I don't know what is. These are the odious little oiks who posted videos of themselves on social media and talked about the pigs being outside the drivers room. Becroft talks about these young men as if they have some merit or value in society - they don't.  They clearly don't.  I'm with the police all the way on this one. Leave them to do their job.  If they believe a car full of speeding teenagers poses a risk to society, I'm with them. The widower of the man who was killed Owen Fraser told Chris Lynch yesterday that he doesn't support the IPCA report.  He says the police weren't in the wrong.  It was the driver who wouldn't stop who is in the wrong. And he's 100 per cent correct.  The only person to blame for the crash was the driver who refused to stop. And do you know what 17 year old Jayden Richard Breakwell received as punishment for taking a life, for committing manslaughter and reckless driving causing injury?  A sentence of two years and eight months.  He'll probably be out by Christmas.It sickens me, and it sickens me to think that the Police are not supported.