Latest news with #ChrisCahill
RNZ News
19-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Police Association president criticises leaking info related to Jevon McSkimming investigation
Police Association president Chris Cahill Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The Police Association President has criticised the leaking of information in relation to the ongoing inquiries into the former deputy commissioner of police. Jevon McSkimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop last month amid a four-month investigation by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police. His resignation came after Police Minister Mark Mitchell said he was recently informed of allegations of a "very serious nature", separate to the investigation that led to him being suspended. RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming's work computer is being investigated as alleged objectionable material. He declined to comment on the allegations through his lawyer. A High Court judge earlier reserved her decision on whether the media should be allowed to report the nature of the allegedly objectionable material found. Police Association president Chris Cahill addressed leaking in his latest column in the Police News magazine. Cahill wrote that raising concerns about "serious wrongdoing" in the workplace was safeguarded under the Protected Disclosures Act. "This recognises the importance of good faith disclosures about wrongdoing, and encourages transparency, accountability and prevention of corruption." However, leaking details of an ongoing investigation was not whistleblowing, he said. "Over the nine years I have been in my role, I have watched a steady escalation in the number of leaks to media and the accompanying erosion they have caused to police's reputation. "The latest high-profile leak has me literally shaking my head. "Ignoring the media frenzy it has created, we must ask what it says about the professionalism of those in police. What protection can victims, witnesses and even suspects expect when such inappropriate disclosures come with all manner of innuendo and potentially pseudo allegations?" Cahill said that during his decades in police he had been involved in many "sensitive investigations". "I know the damage leaked material could have caused. I would have had no qualms about investigating the breach itself, and I expect this to happen in this current case. "Underlying this situation that is saturating the news, we must still abide by the right to natural justice, irrespective of whether we sympathise or empathise with an alleged offender or not." He said there was also a trend of leaking information on internal employment investigations. "This is not whistleblowing. It is the practice of the selfish saboteur, often driven by personal gain at the expense of others. "I know of bullying allegations being made to settle grievances and then leaked to media, who lap up the reports irrespective of their credibility." He acknowledged some people who leaked may have had a "legitimate grievance". "But laundering it through the media is no more acceptable than the behaviour behind the grievance itself. "These scenarios reflect poorly on the professionalism of both the media and police institutions. "Police criminal investigations - whether internal or external - should be kept as tight as a drum to protect the rights of victims, witnesses and the accused. "All Kiwis have a right to expect that this standard is preserved. Within Police, it is at the heart of its professional, integrity and empathy values." Former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Photo: Getty Images In response to questions from RNZ, Cahill confirmed his column was spurred by the investigation into McSkimming which he said was "just an example of a wider issue of leaking". "The leaking of active investigation information paints police in a very unprofessional light. Victims, witnesses and suspects all have the right to expect their statements etc will be treated with privacy and only made public as is appropriate during the justice process. "When it comes to suspects, the very idea of innocent until proven guilty and the access to a fair trial are cornerstones of the justice system. The leaking of information can undermine this." He said if no offending was identified by an investigation, the damage to an individual's reputation could be permanent, "especially in today's world of the social media and online content sharing". "When an investigation is still in progress, I do not believe the public interest overrides the need for these privacy protections." Asked if he had expressed his concerns to police, Cahill declined to comment. In the same edition of Police News it was announced that Cahill would not be seeking re-election to his role. "I believe it is positive for an organisation to have change in leadership and while nine years has gone very quickly, it is time for someone else to bring their style and energy to the role. "I am comfortable the association is in a strong position with a positive leadership team at both board and operational levels to support the new president and continue to build on the legacy of past members." He intended to take a break before deciding on what was next for him after October, but added "I will not be looking at national politics". Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Police consider options for adopting body cameras
A French police officer wearing a body-worn camera standing guard during a French minister's visit to a public school in Paris on 16 January 2024. Photo: AFP The police union says officers getting body cameras for the first time will counter people doctoring phone footage of interactions. The police are looking at options to adopt body cameras after grappling with the pros and cons for at least five years. NZ Police Association president Chris Cahill said the cams would provide a "true picture" of what has gone on. As things stood, officers were getting filmed anyway by the public on their smartphones, but he was aware of some of that footage being doctored to make the interaction look bad. "I think generally they should tell the true picture of what's gone on and that's why our members are positive about them. "I think it's a question that has sort of been kicked down the road for too long in New Zealand and we're sort of the outliers around the world." The big question was not around the benefits, but how much storing all the camera footage would cost. "I mean, you've got the cost of actually buying the cameras, which, you know, we'd straight away say shouldn't come out of current budgets." That would mean something else had to be given away, he said. "But equally, the long-term issue is data storage and how much that costs. "I'm aware of some smaller police services around the world who have pulled the cameras because they simply can't pay that cost." Vancouver Police Department initially struggled with the costs but last year expanded its bodycam programme. In the US, it is reported some police departments have so much footage they are turning to AI to sift through it . Police Minister Mark Mitchell told ZB the government was a big fan of technology to help frontline police, and he personally liked bodycams. "The use of body-worn cameras is an operational decision for the Commissioner," Mitchell said in a statement to RNZ. "As he has signalled, police is exploring options around the potential use of body cameras, and will bring me recommendations when it is complete." Police rolled out new tasers last year that unlike the old model, do not have an in-built camera. "From a scrutiny of police level, that's lowered that scrutiny around the use of tasers. So I think that's where the cameras can add some value," Cahill said. Among the options of a supplier of bodycams is the giant US company Axon, that has supplied New Zealand police with tasers for years. Both old and new models of taser are made by Axon, which also supplies data storage services. New Zealand police use Axon's ' data storage system. Axon last year partnered with Auckland company Auror, which runs the software that enables retailers and police to use automated number plate recognition on thousands of CCTV cameras nationwide. Police have doubled their use of the number plate technology in the last three or so years. Axon has also newly partnered in the US with Ring, which provides 'smart' security products like doorbells with cameras. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Budget 25: Boost will mostly be eaten by inflation, police union says
Police Association President Chris Cahill says the devil will be in the details as to where promised Budget funding will be focused. Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver The Police Association says it's pleasantly surprised by new funding allocated from this year's Budget. The government is investing $480 million over the next four years to support frontline police as part of the 2025 Budget. Police Association president Chris Cahill said the devil would be in the details as to where funding will be focused. "It takes a lot to run a police force, and they sound some big numbers, but most of it will just be absorbed into the increased costs driven by inflation," Cahill said. "But that's much better than falling behind which is what I thought we probably would deal with." The government was also investing $60 million of new funding over the next four years for the Prosecutions Uplift Programme, which was a targeted intervention programme that included improvements to prosecutions, in order to support the court system and reach more timely case resolutions, and funding for administrative police costs like payroll and human resources. Cahill said the programme, which started in Auckland two years ago, was making good gains. "That's good for victims of crime, getting stuff through the courts quicker, it's making it easier for frontline cops to file prosecution files, and also for offenders to get dealt with, it improves justice," he said. In a statement on Thursday, Police Minister Mark Mitchell said the Prosecutions Uplift Programme had the added benefit of freeing-up frontline staff from "administrative overhead". "The programme started in July 2023 in Auckland, and its success there means it will now be rolled out nationally," he said. "We're supporting Police to crack down on crime and ensure there are real consequences for offenders." Chris Cahill said there were other areas of the police force where funding needed to be considered, including the vehicles and equipment used by frontline staff. "Clearly, IT continues to need to be upgraded, so it's good to see some investment in that, and we'll just have to see where all the frontline stuff goes, but just the cost of fuel, general inflation matters, will soak up a significant portion of that [$480] million over four years," he said. "We've also got what I call our backbone, our police employees, our non-sworn staff that need to receive pay rises as well, so those types of things will have to be factored in to where this money's spent. "It's a big organisation and it does take a lot to run, but given how tight the government is at the moment, I think we have to be grateful for what's been received." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
