Preventing and managing bullying at Police: Francis Review
Following media allegations of bullying in 2019, New Zealand Police commissioned an independent external review of its systems and processes to address complaints of bullying. The Review (by consultant Debbie Francis) found that while bullying or harassment did not appear widespread, processes surrounding disclosures, complaints and investigations were sometimes inconsistent, protracted and unsatisfactory to both complainants and those accused.
The Review made 30 recommendations in five areas:
- Effective leadership.
- Explicit behavioural standards and a considered approach to cultural health.
- Positive cultural drivers in the employee lifecycle.
- Safe and secure processes for disclosure and skilled support for staff; and
- Effective complaint management and resolution.
Police accepted all 30 recommendations and has begun implementing them. Our first Progress Report was released 30 September 2020.
The final progress report looks at data to June 30th 2023. It shows how far we have come since the initial report in 2019. Police acknowledges this will always be a work in progress, but we are committed to continuous improvement for our staff.