The Independent Police Conduct Authority has found that Police failed adequately to respond to multiple allegations over a 15-year period that a Police Medical Officer sexually assaulted Police recruits.

In 2019, the Authority received two separate complaints about Police's handling of concerns recruits raised about medical examinations conducted by a doctor, who between 1999 and 2016, was contracted as a Police Medical Officer to conduct routine medical examinations on recruits.

"We undertook an independent investigation, focusing on establishing when Police staff became aware of the allegations and their response. It was not our role to investigate the lawfulness or appropriateness of the doctor's actions," says a statement from the IPCA.

"We found that recruits had raised their concerns about the doctor's medicals at least seven times between 2002 and 2014/15.

"Police had failed to act and continued to send recruits to the doctor. It was not until a formal complaint was made in June 2017 that Police launched a criminal investigation.

"That investigation concluded that there was insufficient evidence to charge the doctor. However, Police notified the Medical Council of the concerns raised."

Ultimately, in June 2022, the High Court found that there was insufficient evidence to support any adverse conclusions concerning the doctor by the Medical Council.

"We delayed the release of our public report until the conclusion of the High Court proceedings.

"We found that the criminal investigation of the doctor conducted by Police in 2017 was of an acceptable standard. However, we also found Police had failed to investigate any of the concerns raised between 2002 and 2014/15.

"In addition, we reached the view that while the criminal investigators offered appropriate support to recruits during the criminal investigation, the member of Police Executive who knew about the allegations failed adequately to support the recruits throughout the criminal investigation and Medical Council process.

"We also concluded that, once Police became aware of the extent of the allegations, they should have conducted a full investigation into their earlier failures to respond.

"By not doing so, Police failed to gather the information necessary to enable them to reach proper conclusions about how they had initially dealt with the recruits' concerns."

Judge Colin Doherty, who was Chair of the Authority at the time of this investigation, says Police not only failed to investigate these serious allegations when they were first raised, but they also failed to meet their obligation as an employer to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their staff.

"It is unacceptable that Police continued to contract the doctor for medicals up until 2016 without investigating or even questioning the alleged conduct, when several recruits had raised concerns about his behaviour over a period of about 15 years."

In response to the IPCA report, Deputy Commissioner Tania Kura says Police would like to acknowledge the people who were affected and who had the courage to come forward and speak up when they felt something wasn't right.

"This is clearly a situation in which Police's high standards when dealing with historic allegations of this kind have not been met.

"It is important to note that both Police's own criminal investigation, and a disciplinary investigation by the Medical Council's Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal, both found insufficient grounds to proceed with further action including criminal charges.

"Nevertheless, Police accept that the response to these historic allegations wasn't sufficiently robust or timely given their seriousness, and that this was a reflection of systemic issues at the time."

Police accept that between 2002 and 2014/15 there were failures in meeting the organisation's obligations as an employer for the safety and wellbeing of our staff and recruit applicants.

Concerns that were raised about the behaviour of a doctor contracted by Police were not appropriately dealt with at the time.

Police also acknowledge the IPCA's finding that a criminal investigation into a complaint made in 2017, was of an acceptable standard and recruits who came forward with allegations were offered appropriate support during and after the investigation.

"The shortcomings in the response are particularly saddening when we reflect on our values as an organisation. Respect is one of our key values and it drives a standard we set for ourselves to treat others as we would want to be treated.

"We want our staff to know their safety and wellness is of great importance, and Police has taken steps to ensure this does not happen again, and to ensure complaints are properly investigated, and managed."

Under the Police ‘Kia Tū – Stand Together' policy there is a clear pathway for all Police employees and recruits to raise concerns about unacceptable behaviour, and there are clear processes to ensure these reports are dealt with appropriately.

There are a range of support services available which are confidential and tailored to the specific needs of the individual and clear outcomes to address behaviours that are found to be unacceptable or unlawful.

The medical assessment for people applying to join Police was reviewed and endorsed by occupational health specialists as fit for purpose.

Details of the medical assessment are published on the New Cops website.

Applicants can be assessed by their personal GP or any trusted medical practitioner.

Police have reminded employees via Police intranet of how to submit a report through the Kia Tū – Stand Together reporting platform.

Any complaints of sexual assault can also be made in the same way as any member of the public who wishes to make a complaint, via channels such as the 105 phone or online report.