November 11, 2025 • 7 mins
The Police Commissioner says he only became aware of an investigation into Jevon McSkimming two days before taking up the top job.
The former Deputy Police Commissioner is awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to having child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices.
A watchdog report finds some of the nation's highest ranking officers ignored a young woman's anonymous complaints against McSkimming.
They then went after her for digital harassment.
The Government has installed an Inspector-General of Police to ensure there is stronger oversight than the IPCA alone.
Commissioner Richard Chambers told Mike Hosking the report points out about five top cops who are at fault.
He says most of them have departed the organisation, but he is also launching employment investigations for other members.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So it's an ugly read. The IPCA reported the mixed
skimming behavior as well as the actions of some senior
police of course serious failings and by and including former
Commissioner Andrew Caster. Richard Chambers as the police Commissioner and
is with us, good morning, good morning. So just for
clarity's sake, you've been in the job one year. You're clean.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
You knew nothing, absolutely nothing like I was briefed on
this matter two days before I started as the Commissioner
of New Zealm Police at the end of November last year.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And what were you briefed on and what did you
do and when did you do it?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I was briefed on the fact that there was an
investigation under way and that you know, there had been
a complaint by a victim more than once earlier in
the year, that that had not been handled properly and
you know, reflected poorly on now former members of the
New Zeale Police Executive. So the first priority was to
(00:56):
put the right systems and processes in place so that
her complaint was taken seriously and the right people were investigating,
with the right structure in place. That was critically important,
and of course running alongside that was a complaint to
the IPCA, and that, of course came out yesterday.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So you spent the first year of your job cleaning
the place up.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yes, I have done a bit of that. Nke feels
that way, certainly.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Can you or could you believe what you were walking into?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Look, I knew that I needed to reset the priorities
in using on police. I needed to ensure that the
focus was on the front line. I knew all of that,
and I've done that. But yes, quite frankly, Look, I've
spent a good champ of the last twelve months mopping
up some mess that occurred before my time, and I
take that in my stride. It's part of my job, right.
(01:52):
But you know, Look, there's fifteen thousand men, a woman
of New Zeum Polas did a great job that night
for our country. My focus is on them, not self,
and and that's what you saw in this case.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I'm told it's limited to FIAB or six people. Is
that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Correct? Yes? That is correct?
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Have they all been dealt to or with?
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Fortunately most of those are former members of the News
and Police executive have departed the organization. I'm very pleased
about that. There are in the recommendations a request that
I sort of a recommendation that I instigate employment investigations.
There are three underway in relation to other members.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Is one is cost of one of those? Or is
he now separate giving you works elsewhere?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes, he's separate now in his new role. That's a
matter between him and his employee of the Public Service Commission.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
The woman and her complaint are still in court, aren't they.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So the messages that resulted in her being charged in
the middle of last year, know that that is no
longer in the court.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
So that has been taken out of the court and
resulved in some way, shape or form. Is there a
check being written? How does that being or how is that?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I reached out a legal representative late yesterday to express
an apology on behalf of the New Zealand Police for
what had occurred. And I did say to him that
I had no doubt there will be further conversations at
an appropriate time in the future.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
And did he say something like you bet their will.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, you know he really appreciated my phone call. I mean,
that's the way I operate, and it's important that I
do reach out and express an apology and we didn't
get into any detail, but I have no doubt that
we will be meeting in due course. So I would
like to express my apologies again, but in person.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Just as it just we're inundated with texts and there's
a lot of people asking a lot of questions. As
best you're able to explain, the government is clearer. The
government and the previous government are clear of this. So
in other words, Stuart Nash, Ginny Anderson, Mark Mitchell didn't
appoint a bunch of crooks that they somehow knew were dodgy.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Oh look, that's not a matter for me, Mike to
really comment on. I mean, you know, the thing is here, Yes,
the focus is on a former Deputy commissioner who who
has behaved incredibly badly. The bit I really struggle with,
where is the personal responsibility for fronting up and saying, look,
there's some things here that I think you need to
(04:15):
know about that. I'm not proud of that. He never
did that as far as I'm aware. So you know,
we can look at the system processes about appointing people,
but where's the personal responsibility, you know, I mean it's
an absolute privilege to serve new Zealand Police, but particularly
at the most senior level. So it's an absolute disgrace
that at no point there was honesty and integrity that
(04:38):
one individual in particular who did not say this is
a problem here.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Well, who's the bigger thug here? Is it cost at
or MC skimming? I mean, yes, MC skimming has been
dealt to and I can I see what you're saying,
but I mean, cost is costing you about it? What's
that say about it?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yes? Yep, Well, you know people will take from that
what they will. I've certainly got a personal view. It's
an absolute disgrace. It's lacking a leadership, it's lacking integrity,
you know. So he's going to need to answer to that.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Those fible six that we talked about. Is there an argument?
I hope my questions clear. Did they look at mixed
schumming and in the heart of hearts believe them, or
did they look at mixed skimming and go hmm, possible,
but we're going to cover them anyway.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Oh look, I think there was a narrative that they
brought into that he you know that there had been
some issues as a consequence of an affair that had
occurred a number of years prior even that I knew
nothing about. So I think they believed his narrative and
that clouded their judgment, their decision making. And they know
that he was being put forward as an ex commissioner
(05:47):
of police. I mean, goodness, gracious, I mean, can you
just imagine what would have happened if that had occurred?
So I think they brought into a narrative that clouded
the you know, their own personal self and self interest.
And we have a poor victim who was reaching out
wanting to tell a story, and she was not taken seriously.
(06:07):
And now there is not the responsibility of my very
very good investigators across the country who work with these
types of situations. It's the responsibility that the former executive
needs to own. And it's appalling.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Are you confident that that blindness that they portrayed is
limited just to mix skimming and no other complaints, people's situations, cases,
investigations or anything.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Well, certainly hope so, Mike, because.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Hotel is not quite enough. Are you clear? Are we
clear that this is it? Or is there potentially more
of we dug Well.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Look, my job right now is to ensure that I
take on board or the recommendations and work swiftly to
put everything in place to ensure this that this never
happens again. And you know, in terms of other stuff
out there, well, I only know what I know. I'm
not a of anything else, and I've got I hope
that that's not the case, because you know, the people
(07:04):
of New Zealand when they reach out to New Zealand Police,
deserve the best possible service they can get and they
need to be taken seriously. And I've been very clear
about that since I took over as the commissioner. Our
priority is supporting the frontline staff of my organization who
do this work day, day and night, and I'm really
proud of it. And you know my focus now, I'm
(07:24):
going to be putting a new leadership team in place
and they all be working with me to help stare
New Zealand Police in the right direction and ensure that
these appalling situations never happen again.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Appreciate your time as always, Richard Chambers, Police Commissioner. For
more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news
talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
So it's an ugly read. The IPCA reported the mixed
skimming behavior as well as the actions of some senior
police of course serious failings and by and including former
Commissioner Andrew Caster. Richard Chambers as the police Commissioner and
is with us, good morning, good morning. So just for
clarity's sake, you've been in the job one year. You're clean.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
You knew nothing, absolutely nothing like I was briefed on
this matter two days before I started as the Commissioner
of New Zealm Police at the end of November last year.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
And what were you briefed on and what did you
do and when did you do it?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I was briefed on the fact that there was an
investigation under way and that you know, there had been
a complaint by a victim more than once earlier in
the year, that that had not been handled properly and
you know, reflected poorly on now former members of the
New Zeale Police Executive. So the first priority was to
(00:56):
put the right systems and processes in place so that
her complaint was taken seriously and the right people were investigating,
with the right structure in place. That was critically important,
and of course running alongside that was a complaint to
the IPCA, and that, of course came out yesterday.
Speaker 1 (01:15):
So you spent the first year of your job cleaning
the place up.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Yes, I have done a bit of that. Nke feels
that way, certainly.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Can you or could you believe what you were walking into?
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Look, I knew that I needed to reset the priorities
in using on police. I needed to ensure that the
focus was on the front line. I knew all of that,
and I've done that. But yes, quite frankly, Look, I've
spent a good champ of the last twelve months mopping
up some mess that occurred before my time, and I
take that in my stride. It's part of my job, right.
(01:52):
But you know, Look, there's fifteen thousand men, a woman
of New Zeum Polas did a great job that night
for our country. My focus is on them, not self,
and and that's what you saw in this case.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
I'm told it's limited to FIAB or six people. Is
that correct?
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Correct? Yes? That is correct?
Speaker 1 (02:06):
Have they all been dealt to or with?
Speaker 2 (02:10):
Fortunately most of those are former members of the News
and Police executive have departed the organization. I'm very pleased
about that. There are in the recommendations a request that
I sort of a recommendation that I instigate employment investigations.
There are three underway in relation to other members.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Is one is cost of one of those? Or is
he now separate giving you works elsewhere?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes, he's separate now in his new role. That's a
matter between him and his employee of the Public Service Commission.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
The woman and her complaint are still in court, aren't they.
Speaker 2 (02:47):
So the messages that resulted in her being charged in
the middle of last year, know that that is no
longer in the court.
Speaker 1 (02:53):
So that has been taken out of the court and
resulved in some way, shape or form. Is there a
check being written? How does that being or how is that?
Speaker 2 (03:01):
I reached out a legal representative late yesterday to express
an apology on behalf of the New Zealand Police for
what had occurred. And I did say to him that
I had no doubt there will be further conversations at
an appropriate time in the future.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
And did he say something like you bet their will.
Speaker 2 (03:18):
Well, you know he really appreciated my phone call. I mean,
that's the way I operate, and it's important that I
do reach out and express an apology and we didn't
get into any detail, but I have no doubt that
we will be meeting in due course. So I would
like to express my apologies again, but in person.
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Just as it just we're inundated with texts and there's
a lot of people asking a lot of questions. As
best you're able to explain, the government is clearer. The
government and the previous government are clear of this. So
in other words, Stuart Nash, Ginny Anderson, Mark Mitchell didn't
appoint a bunch of crooks that they somehow knew were dodgy.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
Oh look, that's not a matter for me, Mike to
really comment on. I mean, you know, the thing is here, Yes,
the focus is on a former Deputy commissioner who who
has behaved incredibly badly. The bit I really struggle with,
where is the personal responsibility for fronting up and saying, look,
there's some things here that I think you need to
(04:15):
know about that. I'm not proud of that. He never
did that as far as I'm aware. So you know,
we can look at the system processes about appointing people,
but where's the personal responsibility, you know, I mean it's
an absolute privilege to serve new Zealand Police, but particularly
at the most senior level. So it's an absolute disgrace
that at no point there was honesty and integrity that
(04:38):
one individual in particular who did not say this is
a problem here.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Well, who's the bigger thug here? Is it cost at
or MC skimming? I mean, yes, MC skimming has been
dealt to and I can I see what you're saying,
but I mean, cost is costing you about it? What's
that say about it?
Speaker 2 (04:55):
Yes? Yep, Well, you know people will take from that
what they will. I've certainly got a personal view. It's
an absolute disgrace. It's lacking a leadership, it's lacking integrity,
you know. So he's going to need to answer to that.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
Those fible six that we talked about. Is there an argument?
I hope my questions clear. Did they look at mixed
schumming and in the heart of hearts believe them, or
did they look at mixed skimming and go hmm, possible,
but we're going to cover them anyway.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Oh look, I think there was a narrative that they
brought into that he you know that there had been
some issues as a consequence of an affair that had
occurred a number of years prior even that I knew
nothing about. So I think they believed his narrative and
that clouded their judgment, their decision making. And they know
that he was being put forward as an ex commissioner
(05:47):
of police. I mean, goodness, gracious, I mean, can you
just imagine what would have happened if that had occurred?
So I think they brought into a narrative that clouded
the you know, their own personal self and self interest.
And we have a poor victim who was reaching out
wanting to tell a story, and she was not taken seriously.
(06:07):
And now there is not the responsibility of my very
very good investigators across the country who work with these
types of situations. It's the responsibility that the former executive
needs to own. And it's appalling.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Are you confident that that blindness that they portrayed is
limited just to mix skimming and no other complaints, people's situations, cases,
investigations or anything.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
Well, certainly hope so, Mike, because.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
Hotel is not quite enough. Are you clear? Are we
clear that this is it? Or is there potentially more
of we dug Well.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
Look, my job right now is to ensure that I
take on board or the recommendations and work swiftly to
put everything in place to ensure this that this never
happens again. And you know, in terms of other stuff
out there, well, I only know what I know. I'm
not a of anything else, and I've got I hope
that that's not the case, because you know, the people
(07:04):
of New Zealand when they reach out to New Zealand Police,
deserve the best possible service they can get and they
need to be taken seriously. And I've been very clear
about that since I took over as the commissioner. Our
priority is supporting the frontline staff of my organization who
do this work day, day and night, and I'm really
proud of it. And you know my focus now, I'm
(07:24):
going to be putting a new leadership team in place
and they all be working with me to help stare
New Zealand Police in the right direction and ensure that
these appalling situations never happen again.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
Appreciate your time as always, Richard Chambers, Police Commissioner. For
more from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news
talks that'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.
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