I was shocked/very disappointed to see the 2025 restructure failed to address Police’s major ‘culture, leadership, people & service’ issue. In fact, the restructure put even less emphasis on addressing this major issue – hence, it is likely to get worse!
Again, research overwhelmingly painted a bleak picture of culture, which was commonly seen as an autocratic culture based on diversity of thought intolerance.
• A significant number of those in managerial positions have little emotional intelligence & few managerial or people skills
• Organisation lacks caring & empathy
* Code of Conduct values (empathy, integrity, professionalism & respect) were not seen as being modelled by organization – particularly at senior level
• Tribal culture which values loyalty over integrity
While this internal research is 5+ years old, my direct experience over (coincidentally) the same time period guarantees no improvements have been made since! It is an undeniable fact Police have a poor/unacceptable culture, where quality leaders are ‘a needle in a haystack’!! Even the Executive Leadership Team & their offices staffs ignore ALL requests from the Public to ‘nip an issue in the bud’ before it is way out of control.
Despite bleak current ‘culture, leadership, people & service’ state of Police; 2025 restructure:
– Disestablished Deputy Commissioner People, Leadership & Culture reporting to Commissioner (Admittedly, incumbent Chris de Wattignar was a significant failure)
– Disestablished Executive Director People Services reporting to Deputy Commissioner People, Leadership & Culture
– Reduced no of personnel in Assistant Commissioner Leadership, Talent & Development team (who was reporting to Deputy Commissioner People, Leadership & Culture)
-Disestablished Director Leadership & Development reporting to Assistant Commissioner Leadership, Talent & Development
-Disestablished Director Service reporting to Executive Director Service, Victims & Resolutions
2025 restructure looked as if Commissioner Richard Chambers believed the ‘culture, leadership, people & service’ state of Police is fine – that the previous structure was ‘addressing’ an issue that did not exist. Again, I can guarantee you from 5.5 (almost daily) extensive years’ experience with many/several PNHQ/Districts senior constabulary the above bleak research outcomes are still ‘alive & well’ within police. The total apathy loyalty first ‘heart’ is ‘pumping strongly’ all the way up to & including all members of the Executive Leadership Team ☹
I strongly recommend an externally appointed (maverick/superstar) Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner in the Executive Leadership Team. Such a person would have the likes of Employment & Service Resolutions, Integrity & Conduct, Ministerial Services, National Integrity Unit, Professional Standards & TOM under their command.
The Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner’s main objectives would be:
– Transform PNHQ & Police culture
– Develop a quality leadership talent pool (which is currently non-existent!)
– Ensure service resolution matters are handled with efficiency, empathy, integrity, professionalism & respect
PNHQ & Police culture – currently one of accountability hatred – needs to change to a growth-mindset oriented one. Specifically, every accountability opportunity is an opportunity for the organisation & its personnel to grow, improve & learn – to become a better performing organization & people. Addressing accountability is seen as an organisational/personal strength.
Let’s see Chambers’ often said ““Police are not always going to get it right. So long as we learn from those experiences & focus on being better, we have the right approach” become much more than good-sounding words. Let’s see Chambers’ serious commitment to make this an actual reality throughout Police.
Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner has a huge task to transform PNHQ’s decades old very dysfunctional culture. Previously mentioned ‘conduct’ statistics confirm PNHQ has highest (by far) concentration of Police’s ‘worst’ personnel. Many ‘offenders’ named in this complaint are Police veterans – Greg Cramer (10 years), Steve Dunn (13 years), Richard Briscoe (15 years), Liam Clinton (20 years), Richard Bourne (30 years), Jason Guthrie (31 years), Jill Rogers (32 years), Tusha Penny (34 years), Mike Johnson (37 years), Sam Hoyle (38 years); Freda Grace, Mike Rusbatch & Paul Basham (40 years); Donna Laban (41 years) & Mike Pannett (44 years).
Based on my 5.5 years experience, over the decades, these personnel will have covered up & engaged in a ‘mountain’ of their & their colleagues’ corruption and (serious) misconduct & neglect of duty! It is too late to retrain them to have a mentality with empathy, integrity, professionalism & respect – their stubborn arrogance to withhold even the most basic of service is too well engrained in them. The only hope is their negative influence on their ‘non-veteran’ colleagues can be undone by the Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner initiatives.
A Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner publicly declares Police are committed to improving their performance. “The appointment of a Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner shows Police’s commitment to better serve the Public. Perfection will never be achieved, though we will get a little closer to it every day”.
England & Wales Independent Office for Police Conduct shows what is possible – Police accountability & resolution unit which is major asset to the organisation as the Public ‘loves’ their highly visible empathy, engagement, integrity, professionalism & respect😊
In accordance with Chambers’ “Leadership that is accountable & visible” main priority, how the Public can easily access this service accountability & resolution process needs to be well publicized. I discovered, through my own efforts, most of the above overlapping responsibilities significantly staffed PNHQ units which “…assist with & progress employment investigations (of complaints)”. Of the 100 or so PNHQ personnel I contacted, not a single one even mentioned – let alone referred me to – any of them for resolution of my significant Police performance complaint!
Nobody should again ever go through the Police NIGHTMARE I have over the last 5.5 years. This Culture, Leadership & Service Deputy Commissioner appointment should avoid such nightmares recurring.
Appreciate you sharing & signing my “Independent Commission of Inquiry into Tribal NZ Police Culture is Warranted” petition. Thanks in anticipation