Latest news with #child exploitation
RNZ News
3 days ago
- RNZ News
Police commissioner Chambers 'angry' and 'let down' following allegations against former deputy
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers. Photo: Calvin Samuel / RNZ The police commissioner has emailed staff saying he is aware there are many who are "angry and feel let down" following revelations that child exploitation and bestiality material were allegedly found on the former deputy commissioner's work devices. "I feel the same," Richard Chambers told staff in an email. Jevon Skimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop in May amid separate investigations by the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and police. His resignation came a week after RNZ approached him, via his lawyer, with allegations about material found on his work devices. RNZ earlier revealed pornography found on McSkimming's work devices was being investigated as alleged objectionable material. On Friday, an interim injunction that prohibited publishing the nature of the allegedly objectionable material lapsed after Justice Karen Grau declined McSkimming's application to continue the order. Do you know more? Email Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said he was unable to comment at this time on Friday. He has since sent an email to staff, seen by RNZ. In the email Chambers addressed the media reports "in relation to an individual". "I am aware that there are many who are angry and feel let down. I feel the same. "It is important to let you know at this point I am unable to comment on the matter, but I do intend to do so when I am able to. "As I have said before, I have high expectations of all Police staff and will act if standards are not met, irrespective of rank or role. "These are the actions of an individual, and I will do my best not to let it distract from the job we are all here to do. "However, I am aware there may be reactions from some that do not sit easily with you." Chambers said if any staff wanted to talk they could contact him or their manager. RNZ has spoken to several police officers after the order lapsed on Friday evening, each of whom on the condition of anonymity. A senior police officer told RNZ the news was "a sad time for New Zealand police". If the allegations were found to be true the officer felt "he's betrayed us all". Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Photo: Getty Images Another police officer said they were "very disappointed" to hear of the allegations. "Especially someone at that level of leadership. I hope all details of his alleged offending will be revealed as soon as possible. At police college we got a talk about how much the historic sexual abuse allegations from Rotorua tarnished our image. They would stop someone during a routine traffic stop and be told 'just don't rape me' many years after the allegation came out people were still talking about it." A former police officer told RNZ the allegations would have a "significant impact" on frontline staff. They had spoken to several serving police officers following the news, many of whom were "gutted". He said one former staffer told them McSkimming would not be welcome near a police station again, others expressed frustration at the reputational damage to police. Police Minister Mark Mitchell declined to comment on Friday. Following McSkimming's resignation, Mitchell accepted trust in the police could take a hit. But he told reporters he hoped the public realised New Zealand had a "world class police force". "The public are savvy enough to know that you are going to have isolated cases of bad behaviour, but they also recognise the fact that our police act very quickly to deal with that," Mitchell said. As an ex-cop, the police's reputation was very important to him, Mitchell said. "I hope that the public see through and realise that we have got an outstanding police force, we've got incredible police officers. "Yes, like any big large organisation, if there's bad behaviour, or you get people who don't hold to the values ... then quick action is taken. "In this case, even though it involves one of our most senior police officers, you've seen that action was taken very quickly to make sure that that public confidence can be maintained." McSkimming's lawyer Linda Clark was earlier granted a rare "superinjunction" by Justice Grau that prohibited reporting the existence of the injunction itself as well as the nature of the allegedly objectionable material. Following a teleconference held by Justice Gwyn, the order prohibiting publication of the nature of the allegedly objectionable material was continued - but the order prohibiting the existence of the injunction was not continued, meaning RNZ could report the fact of McSkimming's application and the interim result. On 3 June, a hearing was held in the High Court at Wellington before Justice Karen Grau in relation to the injunction. RNZ, NZME and Stuff were jointly represented by Robert Stewart KC. On 11 July, Justice Grau released her judgement, declining McSkimming's application, but her reasons for doing so were suppressed and the existing interim injunction was continued to allow McSkimming time to consider his appeal options, should he wish to do so. No notice of appeal was filed, and RNZ can now report the type of objectionable publication purportedly found on his work devices. In November last year McSkimming was placed on "special leave" as the IPCA and then police carried out their separate investigations. RNZ understands it was during police's investigation that the alleged objectionable material was found on his work devices. A second criminal investigation was then launched. At the injunction hearing, Clark alleged information deemed "essential" to the investigation had been leaked to the media, who were intending to publish the information. The information gathered during the police investigation was "confidential", she said. She said that every time police had provided some substantive piece of information to McSkimming, it had appeared within the media "in a day or two days without exception". Clark said there was public interest in McSkimming's situation, but that interest had been served by the reporting to date. Stewart KC said there were two sorts of harm that could be considered, one of which was harm to the police investigation. He said the police had no concern that further disclosure of the material would impact their investigation. In relation to privacy, Stewart KC said McSkimming was "quite clearly" a public figure. "There is a huge public interest in these investigations into Mr McSkimming's abrupt resignation from office, first working day after he had been provided with the material by the Public Service Commission." Stewart KC said his clients submitted that, if the interim restraint should be continued, then "matters should be left to take their course, if there is to be any restraining at all, it should be as limited as possible for as short as possible". At the time of McSkimming's resignation 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. "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." The IPCA earlier announced it was investigating allegations of misconduct by McSkimming following a complaint from a member of the public . It is also conducting an investigation into if there was misconduct or neglect of duty by any other police officers or employee in responding to the allegations. The investigations were being given priority, but no timeframe for their completion date could be given. McSkimming was one of the final two candidates for New Zealand's top cop job last year, with Chambers eventually appointed police commissioner. McSkimming was promoted to statutory deputy commissioner in 2023 on the recommendation of then-prime minister Chris Hipkins. Late last year he was overseeing road policing and operational services, which include strategy, media and communications, risk and assurance, and firearms regulation and reform. During his appointment process, it was noted he had a "relatively unique career path", working at police headquarters since 2010 across a range of areas: strategy, service delivery, resolution, financial planning, arms admin, ICT and infrastructure. McSkimming joined the police in 1996 and worked on the frontline in Auckland and Southland. He had also been responsible for large restructures - as well as managing police IT systems, property portfolio, vehicles, and launching the 105 non-emergency number. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
Former CBA executive Christopher James McCann's final days after child procurement charge
A fortnight ago, Christopher James McCann was living a life of relative anonymity in Curl Curl. The married father-of-two travelled frequently interstate as the head of health and social infrastructure at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney — a position he'd held for the past 11 months. Behind the scenes, however, NSW Police officers and State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad had established Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate the 50-year-old over his alleged attempts to procure teenage girls for sex at his Brisbane hotel room. The matter had been referred to the Queensland Police Service's child exploitation unit, Taskforce Argos. The months-long investigation by both police services culminated in Mr McCann's arrest at Sydney Airport and extradition to Queensland on July 10. On Monday, Mr McCann was charged with a single count of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act at Brisbane Arrests Court, where he was granted bail to reappear on August 4. Forty-eight hours later, his body was found at Springbrook National Park, a popular tourist and bushwalking spot on the Gold Coast. Shocked tourists witnessed police cars and an ambulance speed past them as they made their way back to their holiday homes. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday (Wednesday),' a Queensland Police spokesperson said. On Monday, the court was told police alleged Mr McCann – who had worked in corporate finance, including at ANZ and Westpac, for more than two decades – had formed a 'connection' with his co-accused, sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went. It is further alleged Mr McCann was organising to use the 18-year-old's services while in Brisbane in May but queried if she had any 'younger friends' she worked with. 'You made an arrangement and agreed on a price to use Ms Went's services and that of two underage girls,' magistrate Louise Shepherd said in her summary of the police allegations. The teen girls, aged 14 and 15, and Ms Went allegedly attended the Sofitel Hotel, but Ms Shepherd said it was not alleged the girls went up to Mr McCann's room. The court was told Mr McCann was no longer employed by Commonwealth Bank as a result of the charges. His financial accounts had also been frozen by detectives. Police opposed Mr McCann's bail, claiming there was a risk of further offending and general safety to the community Ms Shepherd also said Mr McCann would not necessarily serve any time in custody if convicted and granted him bail on strict conditions. He had to live with a university lecturer friend near Mudgeeraba, about 20km north-east of Springbrook and not have contact with children except his own sons. Mr McCann's lawyer David Jones KC took issue with affidavits filed by the arresting officer that he said engaged in 'speculation' and were lacking in objectivity. He also pointed to an affidavit prepared by a clinical psychologist who did not even assess his client. Mr Jones said the police material was speculative and engaging in 'fortune telling', telling the court his client was not in a show-cause position and therefore had a prima facie case for bail being granted. 'What would ordinarily be against an applicant, they have flipped,' Mr Jones said. 'So the fact he's 50 years old with no criminal history, doesn't use drugs, doesn't drink – ordinarily for everybody else, that would be a benefit, but for him, that's a disadvantage.' Ms Shepherd granted Mr McCann bail – ordering him to report to police once a week, not to drink or use illicit drugs and be subject to drug testing. He was also ordered to possess only one phone. Ms Went was also granted bail during an application before Ms Shepherd. The court was told Ms Went was receiving a disability support pension and received money through her OnlyFans account, but she did not perform in-person sex work. Both Mr McCann and Ms Went had been due to return to court on August 4.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- RNZ News
Child exploitation and beastiality material allegedly found on former top cop's work devices
It can now be revealed child exploitation and beastiality material were allegedly found on former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming's work devices. McSkimming resigned as the country's second most powerful cop in May amid separate investigations by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and police. National Crime Correspondent Sam Sherwood spoke to Melissa Chan-Green. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
News.com.au
11-07-2025
- News.com.au
Commonwealth Bank executive charged in child exploitation case
A senior Commonwealth Bank executive has been extradited to Queensland and charged after allegedly attempting to procure two underage girls for sex at a Brisbane hotel. Christopher McCann, 50, was arrested by NSW detectives at Sydney Airport on Tuesday, He was then extradited to Brisbane and appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday, facing one count of using electronic communication to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act. Police will allege Mr McCann befriended a Brisbane sex worker and convinced her to lure two teenage girls to a hotel in May. The group allegedly met one night, but a concerned hotel staff member raised the alarm. Queensland authorities were first alerted after the NSW Police sex crimes squad launched Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate Mr McCann's alleged attempts to procure a child under 16. Police identified him while he was visiting Brisbane and referred the case to Queensland's child exploitation unit, Taskforce Argos. Officers launched a two-month investigation, and a Queensland court later issued a warrant for his arrest. Mr McCann was taken into custody by NSW detectives on July 9. Argos Detective Acting Inspector Cameron Burke said the arrest served as a stark reminder to anyone seeking to exploit or harm children. 'Argos investigators and police across the country work collaboratively to share information, intelligence and investigative assistance,' Inspector Burke said. 'We are constantly online, working tirelessly to identify and apprehend offenders. 'Our commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community remains unwavering, and we will continue to pursue those who pose a threat to children.' Sex crimes squad commander Detective Superintendent Jayne Doherty said the arrest was the result of strong interagency co-operation and a common goal of keeping communities safe. 'Working closely with Queensland Police, we were able to track a suspect who believed interstate travel would allow him to evade detection. He was wrong,' Superintendent Doherty said. 'These joint efforts demonstrate that our law enforcement capabilities don't stop at state borders. If you fly interstate to commit crimes, know that our reach is national.'
CTV News
10-07-2025
- CTV News
Ottawa man arrested in Barrie on child exploitation charges
A 34-year-old man from Ottawa is headed back to the nation's capital after being arrested in Barrie in connection with an internet child exploitation investigation. On Thursday, members of the Barrie Police Service Internet Child Exploitation Unit worked with the Ottawa Police Service Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Unit to execute a search warrant at a Barrie residence. Several computer devices were seized as a result of the investigation for forensic analysis. The accused faces several criminal offences, including sexual assault, making child pornography, and making sexually explicit material available to a child. He will await a bail hearing in Ottawa.
