The Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct (COI) was established in February 2004 to carry out a full, independent investigation into the way in which New Zealand Police had dealt with allegations of sexual assault against members of the police and associates of the police. The COI Report was released on 3 April 2007 and made 60 recommendations for change.
This quarter sees the completion of a further two of the original 48 NZ Police recommendations.
"New Zealand Police should implement a best practice state sector disciplinary system based on a code of conduct in keeping with the principles of fairness and natural justice as part of the employment relationship."
The Policing Act 2008 came into force on 1 October 2008. The introduction of the new Act reinforces several recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry. The Act for the first time sets a positive framework for policing practice, including guiding principles, a solemn undertaking and placing the Code of Conduct on a statutory footing. Secondly, the Act makes some needed changes to the law that guides New Zealand Police so all Police employees join the mainstream of employment practice.
This quarter sees the completion of the rollout of the Code of Conduct within NZ Police, with outstanding items such as additional training and awareness sessions to be delivered.
A comprehensive guide for supervisors has been produced and distributed throughout NZ Police. This provides clarity to all involved in the disciplinary process and includes detailed end to end stepped guidance.
This quarter has seen the introduction of the new NZ Police Code of Conduct, with the revised Police Regulations effective 1 February 2008, covering all staff both sworn and non-sworn. The Code of Conduct sets clear standards and behaviours expected of all police employees, with breaches of these standards being dealt with under a new disciplinary system. The Code of Conduct is currently being rolled out within the organisation using the methodology below in paragraph 8, with the process expected to be completed by the end of June 2008.
Police have accepted the findings of the IPCA report into Operation 8 and have already made significant changes to address many of the issues canvassed in the report.
Police received the first monitoring report from the Office of the Auditor-General in June 2009. Quarterly reports from September 2009 will take into account recommendations from the Auditor General's report.
Recommendation 48 was completed in this quarter. This means 21 of the original 48 for which Police are responsible have yet to be completed.
"The early warning system should ensure that all relevant information, sufficient to give a complete picture of an officer's full record of service, is captured in a single database, and is accessible to police managers and supervisors when making appointments and monitoring performance, as well as to complaint investigators when appropriate."
