Hipkins Demands Stronger Police Vetting After McSkimming Scandal

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins has called for enhanced vetting procedures within the police force following the recent guilty plea of former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. McSkimming admitted to possessing material related to child sexual exploitation and bestiality, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of the vetting process that led to his appointment.

During a statement made on Friday, Hipkins expressed that it is “unacceptable” that McSkimming’s misconduct went undetected during his vetting for the role in 2023. He emphasized that the vetting process did not reveal any concerning information about McSkimming, despite a thorough review being conducted at the time of his appointment. “The fact that there was vetting and it didn’t highlight this shows that the vetting was clearly inadequate,” Hipkins stated.

The former Deputy Police Commissioner utilized police devices, including his work cellphone, to conduct Google searches for pornographic and objectionable publications over a span of four and a half years. According to reports, McSkimming performed a total of 5,354 searches, with approximately one-third of them being adult or pornographic in nature. The investigation revealed that he had returned 2,954 objectionable images from 432 searches that were likely to yield such material.

In late 2020, the police leadership made the controversial decision to stop six-monthly internet usage monitoring reports for senior staff, a fact the investigation suggests McSkimming was aware of. Hipkins described the revelation of McSkimming’s actions as “shocking,” noting that his use of police resources for accessing inappropriate material went undetected for so long.

“This was going on for four or five years, and it seemed to go below the radar within the police. That shouldn’t have been allowed to happen,” Hipkins remarked. He emphasized the need for a “real tightening up” of vetting processes and accountability measures within the police force.

In response to the situation, Police Minister Mark Mitchell did not comment on specific details related to McSkimming’s case but reiterated his support for the integrity of the police force. “Individuals who do not uphold the values or display the integrity required to be a member of the NZ Police should be dealt with appropriately,” he stated.

Upon learning about the nature of the materials discovered, Hipkins communicated the issue to the Minister of Police to ensure McSkimming’s conduct was reviewed. Following this, McSkimming resigned from his position.

As an immediate response to this scandal, a rapid review of the controls and security surrounding police devices has been initiated. Mitchell acknowledged the need for auditing and monitoring of staff usage of police technology, stating, “We will investigate any cases of staff found to have accessed inappropriate or objectionable material and will take action where conduct falls short of standards and expectations.”

The ongoing situation has prompted public outcry and raised significant questions about accountability and oversight within law enforcement agencies in New Zealand. Victim support resources have been made available for individuals affected by similar issues, including Sexual Violence NZ Police and other organizations focused on support and prevention.

As this case unfolds, Hipkins remains committed to ensuring that the vetting processes for police appointments are significantly strengthened to prevent such incidents from happening in the future.