Disgraced ex-top cop Jevon McSkimming used police-funded Wellington hotel rooms to host the woman he had been having a secret relationship with on up to 10 occasions, findings from an investigation have found.
The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) has released findings from its probe into McSkimming’s use of police-paid Wellington accommodation, primarily in 2016, alongside its oversight of two criminal investigations into the former senior officer.
He had been one of New Zealand’s highest-ranking police officers before his downfall last year, holding a role one step below the head of police.
The IPCA also said today it accepted it had been reasonable for police not to prosecute McSkimming over a complainant’s allegations of sexual offending, after investigators in late-2024 found there was not enough evidence to meet the threshold for charges.
The findings are the latest from the police conduct authority’s three-pronged investigation into the case, first outlined last November.
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Announcing new findings, the IPCA found the ex-deputy commissioner breached police policy and the police code of conduct when he invited his later-accuser and complainant, known as Ms Z, to taxpayer-bought hotel rooms.
“The fact that the hotels were paid for by police gives rise to the perception that he was using taxpayer money to further a clandestine affair, thus bringing police into disrepute.”
McSkimming — who pleaded guilty in November to three charges of possessing objectionable material, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality images — had worked at police national headquarters in Wellington while living 60-70km away.
His assistant would regularly book him into a Wellington hotel at police expense when he had late meetings, early flights, or social functions, according to the IPCA.
The IPCA found McSkimming invited Ms Z to stay with him in those hotel rooms on several occasions without informing his senior manager, as required by travel policy.
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McSkimming told the authority he believed Ms Z “probably stayed with me eight or 10 times,” which was corroborated by the complainant.
“The rationale for these bookings was explained to us as being to avoid a long drive home after a work event, or where he was required to attend a social function to ensure he was not having a drink and then driving,” a spokesperson said.
The IPCA said the fact that the hotels had been paid for by police gave rise to “the perception that he was using taxpayer money to further a clandestine affair”.
“If he had paid for the hotels himself, that would have been a different matter,” a spokesperson for the authority said today.
Had he informed his manager, the authority concluded it considered it “highly likely that approval would have been declined”.
McSkimming was sentenced in the Wellington District Court in December to nine months’ home detention after pleading guilty to three representative charges of possessing objectionable publications, including child sexual exploitation and bestiality material.
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The charges came after the material was discovered on his work devices amid an unrelated investigation into sexual misconduct allegations made against him.
McSkimming asked to pay back hotel costs – Chambers
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers said he was concerned to learn about the new findings relating to McSkimming and wanted police to be reimbursed over the hotel costs.
“I was very concerned to learn of Mr McSkimming’s use of hotels in Wellington and agree with the findings of the IPCA. This showed a disregard for taxpayers’ money and police expenditure policy,” he ssaid in a statement.
“I intend to write to Mr McSkimming seeking reimbursement of the costs of these hotel stays. As the IPCA report states, the NZ Police policy for sensitive expenditure requires spending to be reasonable and able to withstand parliamentary and public scrutiny.
“It is my view that unless there are exceptional work-related circumstances, staff should not require hotel accommodation in the same centre as their normal place of work.”
Findings come from central probe into McSkimming case
Today’s findings form part of the IPCA’s broader investigation into the McSkimming affair.
In a damning public report released in November last year, the authority found serious failings in how former police head Andrew Coster and other senior officers had responded to allegations made about McSkimming.
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At the time, the IPCA outlined three areas of inquiry: whether senior staff responded appropriately before the formal probe launched in late 2024; whether the police sexual misconduct investigation since October 2024 has been robust; and whether the investigation into McSkimming’s possession of objectionable images had been adequate.
While the first area was covered at the time, the IPCA said at the time it was overseeing the latter two components and would report on those separately at a later date.
On Tuesday, the IPCA confirmed it was satisfied with both criminal investigations.
The first, arising from Ms Z’s allegations of sexual offending, had been formally referred to the authority in October 2024.
While the IPCA had raised serious concerns about the initial stages of the inquiry before it was referred, it found the investigation had been conducted appropriately from November 2024 under its close oversight. Police ultimately concluded the evidential test for prosecution had not been met, a view the authority accepted as reasonable.
The second investigation related to objectionable images found on McSkimming’s police device during the course of the first inquiry.
That investigation led to McSkimming being charged and pleading guilty to offences under the Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act.
“We have no concerns with the way police conducted that investigation,” the IPCA said.
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Chambers welcomed the findings which cleared police investigations in late 2024.
“I welcome the IPCA’s conclusions that the investigation into allegations of sexual offending was conducted with appropriate oversight and in accordance with police protocols for adult sexual assault investigations post November 2024,” he said.
“The IPCA was also satisfied the decision not to lay charges was reasonable.
“The IPCA was also satisfied with the investigation which resulted in Mr McSkimming being charged and pleading guilty to offences of possessing objectionable material.
“I thank the staff who conducted those investigations for their thorough work in what were sometimes challenging circumstances.”
McSkimming, who had been the country’s second-highest-ranking police officer and was once considered a frontrunner for the commissioner role, resigned in May last year.
Coster subsequently resigned from his position as chief executive of the Social Investment Agency after the November report heavily criticised him.