WELLINGTON – New Zealand’s former Deputy Police Commissioner, Jevon McSkimming, has been charged with possessing material depicting child sexual abuse and bestiality. The news has sent shockwaves through the police and public alike.
McSkimming, aged 52 and once a candidate for the Police Commissioner’s job, became publicly identified after he chose not to extend a previous court order hiding his identity. The charges against him have sparked anger and disappointment across the country.
McSkimming is accused of holding objectionable publications, which include exploitative images of children and animals, for four years. The police filed eight representative charges, which cover a pattern of alleged behaviour rather than single incidents. If convicted, he could face up to ten years in prison.
The former police leader was arrested on 27 June 2025 after officers discovered the files on his work devices. He has not entered a plea and remains on bail, with another court hearing set for November. When asked if he had anything to say to the public, McSkimming simply responded, “No,” and walked away.
The investigation began during a different inquiry led by the Independent Police Conduct Authority and New Zealand Police, resulting in McSkimming’s suspension with pay in December 2024.
McSkimming Resigns from His Post
Details were kept from the media under a strict “superinjunction” initially granted in June, which even barred reporting the existence of the order. After a legal challenge by news organizations, the injunction expired on 18 July when the court decided not to extend it, finally allowing details of the case to become public.
McSkimming resigned from his post as Deputy Commissioner on 12 May 2025, just days after the broadcaster RNZ, through his lawyer, raised the allegations with him. His resignation came before the government began formal steps to remove him, with Police Minister Mark Mitchell saying the allegations went beyond the earlier misconduct investigation.
Mitchell stressed that anyone holding the Deputy Commissioner role must meet a high standard of conduct, something he said McSkimming failed to do as a result of the allegations.
The case has deeply affected the police force. Commissioner Richard Chambers addressed the situation, saying the prosecution showed that no one in the police is above the law. Chambers declined to comment further, citing the ongoing legal process, but wrote to staff last month, expressing his anger and disappointment.
Shock and Betrayal
Many officers have spoken of their shock and sense of betrayal. Some described it as a difficult moment for the force, with one former officer noting how the revelations had caused distress among frontline staff.
Concerns have also been raised about police IT security systems. After the files were found, Commissioner Chambers ordered an urgent review of information controls.
The review found police internet policies were not always applied properly and that there were gaps in monitoring and website filtering. These weaknesses allowed illegal material to be stored undetected on work devices.
McSkimming’s long career in policing makes the charges even more shocking. He started as a frontline officer in 1996, served in Auckland and Southland, and moved into national leadership in 2010.
Promoted to Deputy Commissioner in 2023, he was known for leading strategic projects, handling finances, and updating IT systems. He also played a key role in police restructuring and launched the 105 non-emergency phone line. Last year, he narrowly missed out on becoming Police Commissioner.
Minister Mitchell has tried to reassure the public that the New Zealand Police remains a strong organization, calling this an isolated incident swiftly handled by authorities. However, the scandal has reopened old wounds for the force, with officers recalling reputational damage from scandals in previous decades.
As McSkimming prepares for his next court hearing, the case continues to overshadow the police. The shocking nature of the accusations has sparked serious reflection throughout the agency and raised concerns about leadership oversight. The country now waits for the next steps in a case that has left a mark on New Zealand’s law enforcement.
