Mark Mitchell Challenges Claims by Former Police Chief Coster

Mark Mitchell, New Zealand’s Minister of Police, has publicly refuted allegations made by former police chief Andrew Coster regarding his knowledge of misconduct involving former Deputy Commissioner Jevon McSkimming. Mitchell asserted he was first made aware of concerns surrounding McSkimming on **November 6, 2024**, and denied having seen any related emails prior to that date.

In a recent interview with TVNZ, Coster claimed that several ministers, including Labour leader **Chris Hipkins**, were aware of the allegations concerning McSkimming long before Mitchell. Coster suggested that discussions about the matter occurred “informally” between himself and Mitchell throughout **2024**. In response, Mitchell reiterated during an appearance on RNZ’s Morning Report that he had no prior knowledge of the allegations until **November 6**. He emphasized that had he been informed earlier, he would have taken immediate action.

Mitchell detailed that **36 emails** containing allegations about McSkimming were sent to his office, but a protocol required that these be forwarded directly to Coster’s office without his review. He expressed frustration at the implication that he had neglected to act on serious issues within the police force.

“Had Mr. Coster brought forward to me the fact that Jevon McSkimming had entered into an affair with a woman only known as Ms. Z, that involved a big age gap and a significant power imbalance, I would have done what I did on the sixth of November,” Mitchell stated. He characterized the situation as a serious matter that warranted direct communication.

Mitchell confirmed that the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) had informed the Public Service Commission (PSC) they were assessing information related to McSkimming as early as **October 2024**. However, he stated that he was not privy to any details regarding the nature of this assessment. He noted that while the PSC acted appropriately by instructing Coster to brief him, it was not Coster’s initiative to provide information on the issue.

“Coster did not volunteer to come and brief me on that matter,” Mitchell remarked, underscoring his commitment to addressing misconduct within the police. He assured that once he learned about the allegations involving Ms. Z, he took action promptly.

The exchange between Mitchell and Coster highlights significant tensions within New Zealand’s police leadership and raises questions about accountability and communication in handling serious allegations of misconduct. As the investigation progresses, the focus remains on ensuring transparency and appropriate responses to allegations of this nature.