Thanks Bryan, that was an excellent overview and such an obvious solution. Its appaling to me after all the cases you mentioned that this still isn't the situation.
That was a comprehensive overview of what has been happening for quite a long time in our police force. Worst of all it happened in the middle to upper ranks. An interesting but troubling read Bryan. Your assessment of the buddy system and how it works for good and for bad is a good way to look at the reason for why such behaviour occurs. It must be fixed.
This is an excellent summary of how things have gone wrong more than once or twice. It’s particularly troubling for me that lessons were not learned after what Louise Nicholas went through and I know she worked with police to help them improve their systems. Yet here we are again 😡 with the woman being characterised as the perpetrator. It seems no one really tried to hear her story until - as you say Bryan - some brave police officers valued honesty and integrity above “collegiality” and had the courage to keep saying it wasn’t ok. Two of them women police officers as it happens. I like the idea of “situation ethics” being spelt out clearly in training. Integrity and protection of those victimised must come above being “one of the crew”. Sadly, that often means “one of the boys” 😕
Definitely agree; an independent police commisioner makes sense in view of what has happened. They do have a tendency to close ranks very swiftly at the slightest sign of any possible problem, & as things stand at present ther's really no one to police the police.
"In 1997, reporter Melanie Reid’s investigation got the case back to the Court of Appeal. In it, she revealed that Colin Eade, the key detective on the case had allegedly propositioned a complainant mother, went on have affairs with two other mothers and one of the social welfare specialists."
Good piece Bryan - it is really concerning that some things seem not to have changed since Bazley Report came out - I fully support our Police force in the work they do but you are right to say they are just human & the culture can lead to these sorts of coverups - independent Oversight is what's needed
What I find a little more than curious about this most recent case, is against the volume of emails sent to a number of MP's, right up to the top, that none of these MP's appear to have got any of the emails, or even perhaps a whisper of anything untoward going on. Do MP's get any emails at all, or are just the praiseworthy ones kindly filtered through to them. I'm still scratching my head and looking out for those flying pigs...there have been quite a few around these parts recently.
Thanks Bryan, that is what I read too. Still all too unbelievable IMO that (1) email complaints ( and quite a few from the sound of it ) about McSkimming of the Police were sent by Mitchell's office back to the Police, (and 2) without anyone in his office ever advising Mitchell. And (3) who made that decision. Perhaps he wasn't wearing his Minister for Police cap at any relevant time?? The flocks of pigs are now on the Tui as well??? As is often said - you couldn't make this sh.t up. It may just appear they have.
Without that oversight and IPCA power to prosecute, the police force is in danger of becoming just another gang. And they get to wear their patches! I doubt if this dysfunctional CoC will do anything significant, however. Bros before hos, mate.
I think "the New Zealand Police barrel has been morally contaminated for a long time, and what is truly amazing is that the great majority of police are, and have been, rot resistant." is a great summary. I've not had a negative police experience, even dealing with a former high-profile criminal (see link), but am not in a target group and maintain a pretty low profile at protests etc. Just reading about how others have been treated is destressing, as is the lack of change to address it.
Its not just senior officers though, there are many cases, many,many cases, of rank-and-file ploice officers over-extending themselves, acting with extreme violence towards people not even arrested, let alone those who have died in cells because officers couldn't be bothered doing their routine checks. A complete overhaul of the system, which is rotten to the core, really needs to be done. BUT who could we trust to do this? Apart from you, Bryan.....
Thanks Bryan, that was an excellent overview and such an obvious solution. Its appaling to me after all the cases you mentioned that this still isn't the situation.
Me too
Thank you for the in-depth analysis- going way back.
That was a comprehensive overview of what has been happening for quite a long time in our police force. Worst of all it happened in the middle to upper ranks. An interesting but troubling read Bryan. Your assessment of the buddy system and how it works for good and for bad is a good way to look at the reason for why such behaviour occurs. It must be fixed.
Great article Bryan. I agree with all your solutions.
I also think there needs to be an anti-corruption and integrity agency set up.
This happens in all public agencies, and it should cover all public servants, particularly MP’s and government officials.
There is no one that a whistleblower can turn to, and be confident of protection.
This is an excellent summary of how things have gone wrong more than once or twice. It’s particularly troubling for me that lessons were not learned after what Louise Nicholas went through and I know she worked with police to help them improve their systems. Yet here we are again 😡 with the woman being characterised as the perpetrator. It seems no one really tried to hear her story until - as you say Bryan - some brave police officers valued honesty and integrity above “collegiality” and had the courage to keep saying it wasn’t ok. Two of them women police officers as it happens. I like the idea of “situation ethics” being spelt out clearly in training. Integrity and protection of those victimised must come above being “one of the crew”. Sadly, that often means “one of the boys” 😕
Definitely agree; an independent police commisioner makes sense in view of what has happened. They do have a tendency to close ranks very swiftly at the slightest sign of any possible problem, & as things stand at present ther's really no one to police the police.
And that does seem to be sorely needed.
Then there was Peter Ellis...
"In 1997, reporter Melanie Reid’s investigation got the case back to the Court of Appeal. In it, she revealed that Colin Eade, the key detective on the case had allegedly propositioned a complainant mother, went on have affairs with two other mothers and one of the social welfare specialists."
https://newsroom.co.nz/2022/11/13/the-peter-ellis-series-in-jail-and-trying-to-get-out/
Good piece Bryan - it is really concerning that some things seem not to have changed since Bazley Report came out - I fully support our Police force in the work they do but you are right to say they are just human & the culture can lead to these sorts of coverups - independent Oversight is what's needed
Excellent writing Bryan.
A further suggestion might be to apply parental controls to police computers...?
What I find a little more than curious about this most recent case, is against the volume of emails sent to a number of MP's, right up to the top, that none of these MP's appear to have got any of the emails, or even perhaps a whisper of anything untoward going on. Do MP's get any emails at all, or are just the praiseworthy ones kindly filtered through to them. I'm still scratching my head and looking out for those flying pigs...there have been quite a few around these parts recently.
Mitchell's office did get the complaints emails but forwarded them to the police!
Thanks Bryan, that is what I read too. Still all too unbelievable IMO that (1) email complaints ( and quite a few from the sound of it ) about McSkimming of the Police were sent by Mitchell's office back to the Police, (and 2) without anyone in his office ever advising Mitchell. And (3) who made that decision. Perhaps he wasn't wearing his Minister for Police cap at any relevant time?? The flocks of pigs are now on the Tui as well??? As is often said - you couldn't make this sh.t up. It may just appear they have.
I'm also to believe that other senior MP's and the PM were sent a number of emails...and nobody heard a dickybird.
Without that oversight and IPCA power to prosecute, the police force is in danger of becoming just another gang. And they get to wear their patches! I doubt if this dysfunctional CoC will do anything significant, however. Bros before hos, mate.
Thanks Bryan, an outstanding piece of journalism. The solutions proposed seem so obvious.
I think "the New Zealand Police barrel has been morally contaminated for a long time, and what is truly amazing is that the great majority of police are, and have been, rot resistant." is a great summary. I've not had a negative police experience, even dealing with a former high-profile criminal (see link), but am not in a target group and maintain a pretty low profile at protests etc. Just reading about how others have been treated is destressing, as is the lack of change to address it.
https://www.robincapper.net/the-most-bizarre-revit-user-group-experience-ever/
I have noted a distinct fear of Police among vulnerable women in New Zealand. I now understand this is sadly and predictably, a well-founded one.
an excellent piece thank you Bryan.
Its not just senior officers though, there are many cases, many,many cases, of rank-and-file ploice officers over-extending themselves, acting with extreme violence towards people not even arrested, let alone those who have died in cells because officers couldn't be bothered doing their routine checks. A complete overhaul of the system, which is rotten to the core, really needs to be done. BUT who could we trust to do this? Apart from you, Bryan.....