Newly released figures show 33 New Zealand Police employees are under investigation for alleged sexual misconduct, with six cases remaining unresolved for more than 500 days.
According to state-funded media, as of 18 June, police had 271 active investigations involving 325 staff members, covering allegations ranging from perjury and excessive force to conflicts of interest, drug and alcohol offences, and disgraceful conduct.
Seven investigations have been open for more than 1,000 days. Acting Chief Operating Officer Leigh MacDonald said the number of staff involved represented only a small fraction of the organisation’s 16,000-strong workforce and rejected suggestions of a widespread problem, while stressing that all allegations are taken seriously and no employee is above the law.
Police say they are investing additional resources to speed up investigations, following concerns from Commissioner Richard Chambers about lengthy delays in resolving staff misconduct cases.
This article was originally published by the Daily Telegraph New Zealand.
