Police take disciplinary action against nine staff for sexual harassment

Nine police staff have been disciplined for sexual harassment since 2014. Photo / File

Nine police staff have been disciplined for sexually harassing their colleagues since 2014, official figures reveal.

There have been 20 complaints since 2014, with 11 not leading to any disciplinary action.

Police deputy chief executive of people Kaye Ryan said any harassment was unacceptable and as an employer they would not tolerate that behaviour.

The police had a discrimination and harassment policy, providing a framework to investigate and address such allegations.

"We encourage any member of our staff who is a victim of harassment to make a complaint through their supervisor or the internal 'Speak Up' service, which allows staff to report matters of concern both involving themselves or others," Ryan said.

"Anyone who does this will be supported closely throughout the process."

Police Minister Stuart Nash said he expected all sexual harassment complaints to be treated seriously.

"No form of harassment in the police should be tolerated.

"If an investigation finds sufficient grounds to warrant action, I expect police staff to be treated no differently from any other member of the public. I encourage women and men to speak up if they witness or are subjected to unacceptable conduct."

Police had learned from the 2007 Commission of Inquiry into Police Conduct, and the organisational culture and practice was now more progressive and empathetic, Nash said.

"Police have spent 10 years working to change the organisational culture and that work remains ongoing. I expect police to not 'take the foot off the accelerator'."

Police Association president Chris Cahill told RNZ given New Zealand Police employed more than 12,000 people, the number of complaints was small.

The information comes after on Tuesday it was revealed four new police recruits were stood down over allegations of misconduct involving four separate incidents at the Royal New Zealand Police College in Porirua.

And another six recruits from Wing 318 who were caught drinking while training to be police officers were told off for their behaviour and still graduated earlier this month.