Summarised by Centrist
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers is under investigation after complaints about his alleged conduct with women were received by Police Minister Mark Mitchell and referred to authorities.
RNZ first reported that complaints had been made against Chambers. 1News later reported that two investigations had been launched and that the complaints related to alleged conduct involving women.
According to 1News, the first complaint was received in November last year and related to an alleged incident in a lift. A second complaint was received in February this year.
Details released under the Official Information Act show the complaints were received by Mitchell, who is understood to have referred them to the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the Police National Integrity Unit on the days he received them.
Chambers strongly rejects the claims.
“I will cooperate fully with the investigation and look forward to having this matter dealt with,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner Mike Pannett confirmed complaints relating to Chambers were being investigated by the IPCA and police.
“These are being managed in accordance with proper processes including oversight by the IPCA. There is no further comment at this stage,” Pannett said.
Chambers was appointed Commissioner in November 2024, replacing Andrew Coster, after the Jevon McSkimming scandal had placed senior police conduct under intense scrutiny.
McSkimming later pleaded guilty to possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material found on his work devices and was sentenced to home detention.
Chambers previously condemned the failures of his predecessors, saying the McSkimming report showed “a total lack of leadership and integrity at the highest levels of New Zealand Police.”
The allegations against Chambers remain unproven, and no findings have been made.
