Latest news with #IPCA
NZ Herald
5 days ago
- NZ Herald
Controversial CIPEM police interviewing technique under fire, IPCA recommends improvements
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has apologised after an independent report into a controversial interviewing technique deemed it 'manipulative and coercive'. The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) review scrutinised the use of the Complex Investigation Phased Engagement Model (CIPEM). CIPEM was developed to crack cold cases by engaging suspects reluctant
Scoop
6 days ago
- Scoop
Police Response To IPCA Report Into Complex Investigation Phased Engagement Model (CIPEM) Interviewing Method
Commissioner Richard Chambers: Police acknowledge and fully accept the findings and recommendations of the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) report into Police's use of the Complex Investigation Phased Engagement Model (CIPEM) interviewing method. The CIPEM interviewing programme was implemented in 2018 with the knowledge and support of the Police Executive, and the staff involved acted in good faith striving to improve an acknowledged gap in our interviewing capacity. While there are lessons to be learned for Police, the staff involved displayed passion and dedication in working to try to advance difficult and complex cases. Police acknowledge that more support should have been afforded to the officers involved at the time and apologise to the staff involved for not providing that support, particularly during a prolonged period of media reporting. The murder case interview referenced in the IPCA media statement was subject to an independent review, which found that those involved in that interview were not involved in the wider investigation management, including making key decisions relevant to progressing the investigation or prosecution. They were brought in to conduct an interview phase only. In these circumstances, it would be both wrong and unfair for conclusions to be drawn that these staff were to blame for the charges being withdrawn. Consequently, the internal review also focussed on the way the Police lead, review and manage serious crime investigations and an examination of those areas specific to that case. Police are unable to release a full copy of that review as it contains sensitive information that would prejudice further investigation and potential prosecution outcomes. A summary of the review (previously released under the Official Information Act 1982) is provided with this release. Police also commissioned a broad review of interviewing practices across all of Police, which was completed in November 2024. The recommendations of that review and the recommendations of the IPCA review are accepted and are being implemented as a programme of work. A full copy of this review is provided with this release. Police is also establishing a new position, the Manager Investigative Interviewing, to lead this programme of work, as was recommended by the IPCA. Police expect to recruit for this position in coming weeks. Engaging with and interviewing victims, witnesses and suspects is a core policing skill and pivotal to advancing all investigations and other aspects of policing. The Police Executive is committed to ensuring that NZ Police's interviewing training programme is world leading.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Jevon McSkimming resignation: Jill Rogers and Mike Pannett are considered the frontrunners to be appointed as the next deputy police commissioner
The original investigation which led to his suspension just before Christmas is ongoing, although McSkimming expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing and to 'resume his duties' according to a statement issued by his lawyers in January. But as part of that criminal investigation, detectives allegedly found pornographic material on his work computer and that led to a second inquiry. Some of that pornographic material is being investigated as potentially 'objectionable' under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act. After being confronted by the alleged existence of the material, McSkimming resigned as Deputy Commissioner just a few weeks ago; although Mitchell was explicit that the 51-year-old jumped before he was pushed. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, McSkimming - who was a final candidate for the top job of Police Commissioner just six months ago - could face criminal charges in court. Lurking in the background is a wider inquiry that could be even more damaging to trust and confidence in the police. The Independent Police Conduct Authority [IPCA] is also investigating whether there has been 'misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officer or employee in the course of responding to the allegations' against McSkimming. Some of the most senior police officers in the country are expected to be interviewed as part of that investigation. Nothing should be assumed until all the facts are known, but the New Zealand Police and the Government are bracing for a potential PR nightmare in the coming months. With that in mind, it makes sense to wait for the dust to settle before settling on McSkimming's potential replacement as Deputy Commissioner. Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Photo / Mark Mitchell There are two obvious candidates: Mike Pannett and Jill Rogers. Both have been seen flanking new Police Commissioner Richard Chambers around Wellington this year, and each have acted in the deputy role on a temporary basis during McSkimming's absence. Pannett has held the rank of Assistant Commissioner since 2016 when he was in charge of the national security programme. During that time, he also had a three-year secondment with the Australian Federal Police to oversee branch offices across 33 countries, with a focus on transnational organised crime. Earlier in his career, Pannett was based in Washington DC as the liaison officer to the United States, Canada and South America before returning to be the Southern District Commander based in Dunedin. Jill Rogers' career has been closer to home, but no less impressive. She joined the police in 1993 and qualified as a detective to spend 17 years investigating serious crimes in Auckland. Rogers moved back into uniform as the area commander of Auckland Central for three years, then the district commander for Counties Manukau from 2017 to 2023. She was then promoted to Assistant Commissioner and put in charge of the Police College, as well as training and development across the entire organisation. Rogers is currently listed on the police website as the 'relieving' Deputy Commissioner and considered to be the frontrunner to permanently fill the vacancy left by McSkimming's sudden departure. There is one other clue that points to her favouritism for the job. In his first interview with the Herald after becoming the Police Commissioner in November, Richard Chambers told an anecdote about why he joined the police. It had always appealed as an exciting career, but in weighing up his options, Chambers had arranged a 'ride-along' in a police car. He was paired on the shift with a young constable called Jill Rogers. 'I saw the way Jill interacted with people from all sorts of backgrounds. She was really inspiring to me, and was a big influence on my decision to join the police,' said Chambers. 'We're really lucky to have her.' Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said Jill Rogers helped inspire him to join the police in the mid 1990s. Photo / Mark Mitchell That's about as good as a CV reference gets in the world of policing. In the meantime, Tania Kura is the only statutory Deputy Commissioner currently left in the police. She and McSkimming were appointed at the same time and her five-year term does not expire until 2028. The statutory role is important within the constitution framework of the police and carries a safeguard of independence from the Police Commissioner. If Chambers was to be incapacitated, for example, Kura would assume office until a new commissioner was appointed. Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. He joined the Herald in 2006 and has won a dozen journalism awards in that time, including twice being named Reporter of the Year. He is also the author of Gangland, Gangster's Paradise and Underworld.
NZ Herald
26-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
New Lynn terror attack: Graphic CCTV footage to be shown to closed court
The first phase of the inquest begins next week and will focus on the day of the terror attack. Coroner Marcus Elliott will hear from survivors, witnesses, police officers, Corrections staff, doctors and others during the 10-day hearing. The first phase is partly driven by questions from survivors about the attack. In particular, survivors wanted to know why police who were surveilling Samsudeen were not inside the supermarket at the time of the incident and whether this would have prevented the stabbings. The police have applied to suppress some sensitive evidence, including CCTV footage from inside the supermarket during the violence. Members of the public will be excluded from the hearing when the footage is played. The police submission said the footage was graphic, could compromise the safety of police officers, and breached the privacy of witnesses in the supermarket during a traumatic event. The second phase of the inquest will cover the four-month period in which Samsudeen was living in the community before the attack. He was under constant police supervision and living in an Auckland mosque at the time, which media are legally unable to identify. The third phase will look at the attacker's time in prison, much of which was spent in segregation and on remand. Samsudeen was in and out of jail over a period of four years on a range of offences related to the possession of objectionable material. The second and third phases will have a special focus on how the attacker came to be radicalised into violent extremism. The terror attack has already been the subject of five investigations, beginning with a co-ordinated review by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA), Corrections and the NZ Security Intelligence Service (SIS). Corrections and police carried out their own reviews, as did the IPCA, which found that the two police officers were justified in shooting Samsudeen. Mike Heron KC carried out a review of the attacker's immigration files. The case has influenced changes to New Zealand's immigration and counter-terrorism laws. Samsudeen, a member of the Tamil ethnic minority group from Sri Lanka, was granted refugee status in New Zealand in 2013 after claiming his family had been tortured for their political views. His refugee status was revoked in 2019 when it was found that it was fraudulently obtained, but complexities in New Zealand law meant he could not be deported. The Government has now drafted a law change to allow refugees' residence visas to be cancelled if they posed a risk to national security. Despite the risk that Samsudeen posed, he could not be charged under anti-terror laws because planning an attack was not an offence under the legislation. The law has now been amended. Isaac Davison is an Auckland-based reporter who covers Auckland Issues. He joined the Herald in 2008 and has previously covered the environment, politics, social issues and healthcare.
NZ Herald
19-05-2025
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Jevon McSkimming resignation: ‘Super injunction' lifted but media still barred from publishing details of ‘objectionable material' allegations against former deputy commissioner
'The Policing Act is very clear: A Deputy Commissioner of Police must be a 'fit and proper' person. They are rightly held to the highest standards of conduct and this new information called into serious question Mr McSkimming's fitness for office. 'When Mr McSkimming was invited to respond to these allegations he chose to resign. Mr McSkimming's resignation has confirmed my view that his continuation in the role was untenable.' Mitchell and the Police Commissioner Richard Chambers have not commented on the nature of the new allegations because of the ongoing investigations. The Herald revealed that detectives investigating the original complaint against McSkimming - the details of which cannot be reported currently for legal reasons - allegedly discovered pornographic material on one of his electronic work devices. It is understood that the material is being assessed as to whether or not it could be classified as objectionable, which could lead to criminal charges. McSkimming's lawyer Linda Clark has declined to comment on his behalf so far. But late on Friday, Clark filed an urgent application in the High Court seeking an injunction to stop media from publishing further details about the material allegedly found on McSkimming's electronic devices. The application was supported by lawyers for the New Zealand Police and granted on an interim basis by Justice Karen Grau. Even the fact that McSkimming had sought an injunction against the media was suppressed; a non-publication order which is sometimes referred to as a 'super injunction'. The injunction is opposed by NZME, Radio New Zealand and Stuff, which are jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC. At a High Court teleconference hearing on Monday afternoon, Clark no longer sought for the super injunction to remain in place. But the injunction to stop publication of the nature of the alleged objectionable material remains in place for now. The arguments for and against publication of those details will be aired at another High Court hearing at a future date. The legal skirmish between McSkimming and the media organisations comes as the former deputy commissioner remains under criminal investigation by the police, and the Independent Police Conduct Authority. 'This comprises oversight of a Police investigation into whether there has been any criminal wrongdoing by Mr McSkimming and a review of whether there has been any related non-criminal misconduct,' the IPCA said in written statement released on Thursday. 'In addition, the Authority is conducting an independent investigation into whether there has been misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officer or employee in the course of responding to the allegations.' The IPCA said no further comment would be made until the investigations are complete, but would not give a timeframe on when that might be. McSkimming was the second-most powerful police officer in the country until last week. Given his seniority in the ranks, the Herald understands that it is expected that former Police Commissioner Andrew Coster and other members of the police executive - past and present - would be interviewed by the IPCA about their knowledge of the 'complaint by the member of the public'. Coster is now the chief executive of the Social Investment Agency, and declined to comment about McSkimming when questioned by media. 'I can't comment on the details of this because there are multiple investigations underway and we need to let those investigations take their course,' Coster said. 'It might be appropriate for me to comment when that's occurred, but in the meantime, it's most appropriate for me to say nothing.' The sudden resignation of McSkimming is a shocking development given he was one of the top candidates to replace Coster as the Commissioner of Police in late 2024. McSkimming graduated from Police College in 1996 and spent the first 10 years of his career in frontline roles in Auckland, Southland and the West Coast. He shifted to the Wellington district for several years in leadership positions, before moving to Police National Headquarters (PNHQ) in 2010 and rising through the ranks there. In 2023, McSkimming was promoted to deputy commissioner on the recommendation of Chris Hipkins, who was Prime Minister at the time, following a Public Service Commission selection process. 'Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming brings a relatively unique career path within New Zealand Police,' according to a report presented by Hipkins to Cabinet. 'He has been a police officer for 27 years but, since 2010, McSkimming has used his operational skills across the organisation to shape strategy, service delivery and resolutions, financial planning, arms administration, ICT and infrastructure.' The departure of McSkimming means there is now a vacancy for an influential position in the police executive. He was one of two statutory Deputy Commissioners, an appointment made by the Government, which is an important role within the constitutional framework of police and carries a safeguard of independence from the Police Commissioner. If Chambers was to be incapacitated, for example, the most senior statutory deputy commissioner takes charge until a new commissioner is appointed. Similarly, if any allegations were made against Chambers, the statutory deputy has the independence to investigate without interference. Following McSkimming's departure, Tania Kura is now the only possible replacement for Chambers until a new statutory deputy is appointed. Jared Savage covers crime and justice issues, with a particular interest in organised crime. He joined the Herald in 2006 and has won a dozen journalism awards in that time, including twice being named Reporter of the Year. He is also the author of Gangland, Gangster's Paradise and Underworld.
