Three New Zealand Police staff members are set to face criminal charges following separate investigations launched as part of a rapid review of Police information security controls.
Acting Deputy Commissioner Tim Anderson confirmed that two Auckland-based constabulary staff will appear in the Manukau District Court in the coming days, while a third officer will appear before a court in the Wellington region at a later date.
The three officers are each facing multiple charges of possessing objectionable publications under the Films, Videos, and Publications Classification Act.
Anderson said the decision to prosecute Police employees was a significant but necessary step.
“Prosecution of our own staff is a serious but important step to take as it recognises the significance of the alleged offending that has been identified,” he said.
He acknowledged the work of investigators from the National Integrity Unit, who examined a substantial volume of web activity as part of the investigations.
“I would like to acknowledge the professionalism and commitment by our investigators in the National Integrity Unit for their work to this point,” Anderson said.
Police said the cases are now before the courts, limiting the amount of information that can be publicly released.
All three officers have been stood down from their duties while the court proceedings take place.
The prosecutions stem from a wider review of Police information security controls. Police have investigated 22 cases as part of the process, with 12 matters resolved through disciplinary action or performance management measures.
A further three investigations remain ongoing, while four staff members resigned during the review process.
The review was initiated following the investigation into former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming, who resigned from Police in 2025. McSkimming was later convicted of possessing child sexual exploitation and bestiality material, including material found on work devices.
Police have not released further details about the current cases as the matters are now before the courts.
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