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December 18, 2025
Former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming Avoids Jail, Sentenced to Home Detention
Waatea Team
Posted On December 18, 2025
In a case that has shocked many across Aotearoa, former Deputy Police Commissioner Jevon McSkimming has been sentenced to nine months’ home detention after pleading guilty to charges of possessing objectionable material, including images of child sexual exploitation and bestiality. The sentence was handed down today in the Wellington District Court by Judge Tim Black.
McSkimming, 52, once one of New Zealand’s most senior police officers, resigned from the Police in May 2025 amid mounting allegations and an independent review into his conduct. He had previously served as the country’s second-highest ranking police official, and was widely regarded as a leader within the organisation before his downfall.
The charges to which McSkimming pled guilty stem from material found on his work devices between 2020 and 2024. Court documents revealed he had conducted thousands of searches for sexual material – including content assessed as objectionable – while using police equipment. Prosecutors described the offending as a “profound breach of trust” given McSkimming’s senior role in the police force.
In sentencing, Judge Black noted a range of mitigating factors, including McSkimming’s early guilty plea, expressions of remorse, and steps taken at home to prevent reoffending. Starting from a term of three years, the sentence was reduced to nine months’ home detention, to be served concurrently for the charges. McSkimming was not ordered to register on the child sex offender registry, with the court assessing his risk to the community as low.
McSkimming’s lawyer described him as “very remorseful” and “deeply ashamed” of his actions, and the court took into account his prior good character and contributions to community safety during his long career in policing.
The case has had wide-ranging repercussions. An Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) review into how the police handled complaints against McSkimming highlighted systemic failures, and led to resignations at senior levels, including former Commissioner Andrew Coster. McSkimming’s actions and the subsequent handling of the matter by the Police have prompted ongoing debate about leadership, accountability and trust in New Zealand’s law enforcement agencies.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers has condemned McSkimming’s behaviour as “disgraceful” and underscored the principle that no member of the Police is above the law. Efforts are also underway to strip McSkimming of his Long Service and Good Conduct medals and to have him return any Police uniform items in his possession.
The sentencing marks the culmination of a case that has seen one of the nation’s most powerful former police leaders publicly held to account, and raises broader questions about professional standards, oversight and the obligations of those entrusted with public safety.
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