Background

Former Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark announced the Commission of Inquiry of 4 February 2004. The Commission was established to carry out a full, independent investigation into the way in which the New Zealand Police had dealt with allegation of sexual assault by members of the Police and associates of the Police.

This followed the publication of allegations suggesting that police officers might have deliberately undermined or mishandled investigations into complaints of sexual assault that had been made against other officers. 

The Commissioner for the inquiry was Dame Margaret Bazley.

The Commissioner of Police fully accepted the findings of the Commission of Inquiry, and committed to implementing the recommendations made by the Commission. The New Zealand Police is responsible for 48 of the 60 recommendations. Work has begun on these, with some recommendations already fulfilled.