New Zealand’s Deputy Police Commissioner allegedly had child sexual exploitation and bestiality material on his work devices, but the public were kept in the dark for two months due to a rare “superinjunction”.
Jevon McSkimming, 51, resigned suddenly as the country’s second most powerful cop in May, four months after being suspended while under a separate investigation, but obtained a court order preventing media from reporting what was allegedly discovered.
But New Zealand media outlets RNZ, NZME and Stuff fought the injunction and High Court Justice Karen Grau dismissed McSkimming’s application earlier this month, meaning the nature of the alleged material found on his phone could be revealed to the public from 5pm on Friday.
McSkimming was among the final two candidates for New Zealand Police Commissioner in November last year but lost out to Richard Chambers, who said after the allegations were reported on Friday that he was “unable to comment”, Stuff reported.
A month after being passed over for the top job McSkimming was placed on “special leave” due to separate investigations initiated by the police and the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA).
According to RNZ it was during the police investigation that the alleged child sex abuse and bestiality material was found on McSkimming’s work devices, and a second criminal investigation was then launched.
McSkimming’s resignation was announced in May by Police Minister Mark Mitchell, who said he resigned before he could be fired “after allegations of a very serious nature recently came to light, separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended”.
“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,” he said at the time.
Commissioner Chambers has since conducted a “rapid review” into the police’s information security controls amid concerns cops were bypassing the controls and exploiting technological vulnerabilities to “access inappropriate content”, and a summary report found the current systems were “inadequate” and “insufficient”.
Shortly after his resignation McSkimming starting selling up properties he owns jointly with his wife, listing a Wellington region home worth about $2 million, selling another after inviting offers of over $715,000, and putting a third on the market for $595,000.
McSkimming was appointed Deputy Commissioner by former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins when the role became statuatory in 2023, even though redacted documents hint he was aware of allegations against McSkimming New Zealand media were already aware of, Stuff reported.
The Public Service Commission noted McSkimming had a “relatively unique career path within New Zealand Police”, having ascended to the role without having been a detective and with almost no investigative experience under former Police Commissioner Andy Coster.
Coster’s predecessor Mike Bush was recently appointed Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.
Header image: Jevon McSkimming.
