"Response to New Zealand Herald story "

In 2015 a number of staff from the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Corrections worked at Police National Headquarters in the Māori, Pacific, Ethnic Services division on a project about improving justice outcomes for Māori.

Issues were raised regarding the management of the project relating to deliverables and project progress.

These issues did not include allegations about bullying.

However, an allegation of bullying was made to Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement by a third party, external to all agencies.

The individuals concerned were not named.

Mr Clement immediately made contact with the Ministry of Justice and the Department of Corrections to request more information and advise that the staff involved could make a complaint if they wished.

No further information or complaints were forthcoming to Mr Clement from the agencies.

In the absence of any formal complaint, or further information, the matter was unable to be taken further, and therefore not escalated to the Commissioner.

While we take any allegation seriously, substantiated information is required particularly on matters of this nature, to enable us to progress the appropriate actions.

This is especially so when the only information available to us is from a third party who is not directly involved.

Police are aware that individuals featured in today’s media story may now wish to make a complaint, and we have supplied contact information to enable this to happen.

Police take allegations of bullying seriously, and if any individual wishes to come forward and make a complaint then we will investigate it, regardless of who it involves.

ENDS

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