Police speak after Luxon's deputy press secretary resigns
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers says he won’t intervene at this stage over the police’s investigation into allegations against a now-former deputy press secretary to the Prime Minister.
Christopher Luxon spoke to the media this morning for the first time since it was revealed his deputy press secretary Michael Forbes resigned.
Forbes resigned on Wednesday following a Stuff report that Forbes allegedly recorded audio and took photographs of women in compromising positions without their consent.
Police are standing by their decision not to charge the Prime Minister’s former press secretary but they remain open to new information from the public.
It comes amid an inquiry led by the Department of Internal Affairs into Michael Forbes, who has resigned as he faces allegations he recordedsex workers without their consent and took photos of women in compromising positions.
Forbes, who was recently elevated to Christopher Luxon’s deputy chief press secretary after working for Minister Louise Upston, was the subject of a 2024 investigation after police received a report from a Wellington brothel manager on July 12.
In a statement, Detective Inspector John Van Den Heuvel said police obtained a search warrant the following day to seize Forbes’ two phones, including his Government-issued phone.
“On examining the phones, police also found a number of photos and video of women in public spaces, and what appears to be women in private addresses, taken from a distance away,” he said.
“Police considered the available evidence and concluded it did not meet the requirements for criminality, and therefore charges could not be filed.”
Van Den Heuvel, manager of Wellington police’s criminal investigations unit, said Forbes – referring to him as “the individual concerned” – spoke voluntarily to police and admitted to taking the recordings and images, deleting them in front of police.
While he acknowledged Forbes’ behaviour was “extremely distressing” and any new information would be “thoroughly considered”, the police would not progress the matter any further based on current evidence.
The allegations related to Forbes were made public in a Stuff report yesterday.
Luxon’s office was informed of the issue through the journalist’s questions on Tuesday. The police last year hadn’t informed the Government of the investigation.
Police Commissioner Richard Chambers, who was not in the role at the time of the investigation, said any decision to inform the Government under the no surprises convention was a matter for the commissioner, who at that time was Andrew Coster.
Coster, now chief executive of the Government’s Social Investment Agency, today claimed to the Herald he hadn’t been made aware of the investigation until this week, despite Chambers today stating members of the police’s executive team had been informed.
Coster made no further comment and police have declined the Herald’s request to interview a member of its executive team.
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Chambers said he was first told about the matter on Tuesday afternoon and immediately contacted the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and Police Minister Mark Mitchell.
“In situations such as this, it should also be considered whether there is an obligation on an individual to raise any issues that might be relevant to their employment with their employer or prospective employer,” Chambers said.
Chambers wouldn’t comment on the decision not to disclose as he wasn’t part of the police executive team at the time, but did acknowledge the importance of the commissioner being made aware of such matters.
He also said he wouldn’t intervene in any decision to review the police’s decision, saying it was a matter for his Wellington staff.
Luxon earlier fronted the media for the first time and expressed “absolute shock”, “frustration and anger” at the allegations and the impact it has had.
He said Internal Affairs’ review would be a “deep dive” into the security vetting processes Forbes was subject to and the level of communication between agencies in relation to the police investigation.
Press secretary Michael Forbes (left) seen here walking with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister Louise Upston. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Forbes has been temporarily working in Luxon’s office recently and had previously worked as press secretary for Social Development Minister Louise Upston during the time of the alleged behaviour.
In a statement yesterday, Luxon said the allegations were “serious and concerning”.
“They were discussed with the staff member on the evening of June 3 and it was clear their employment was untenable.
“It was agreed that the staff member was stood down that evening and they resigned the following morning. Had the staff member not resigned, we expect their employment would have been terminated after a short investigation.”
Forbes declined to be interviewed but in a statement said he wanted to apologise to the women and recognised the harm he had caused.
Forbes said he had failed to make a genuine attempt to apologise and had tried to move on without offering the women accountability and acknowledgment.
He said therapy had helped him reflect on his behaviour and address what had led to it.
“I understand that my past actions may have undermined the trust people place in me. So, I have resigned from my job to focus on the work I need to do.”
Upston, Forbes’ former boss, said her feelings about the allegations were “irrelevant” and instead focused on the women recorded and photographed.
“As I said, I’m more concerned about the women who were affected by this and can only imagine how they’re feeling.”
She confirmed she was advised of the allegations one hour after the Prime Minister’s office was informed.
Upston said she had had “substantial” conversations with her staff since the allegations were made public.
“Obviously, there’s a range of emotions of the people that have worked with [Forbes] in my office, and I want to make sure that they are well supported and they have great support from Ministerial Services, and I will be heavily involved in the coming days and weeks to make sure that they will be supported.”
Forbes also worked as a press secretary for former National leader Judith Collins when the party was in Opposition.
Now a minister, Collins said she was shocked by the allegations and confirmed she wasn’t aware of any complaints about Forbes’ behaviour during the time he worked for her.
She said the Internal Affairs inquiry would assess whether greater levels of security vetting were necessary.
The allegations concerning secret recordings and photographs had prompted questions as to whether legislative change was necessary to afford people, such as sex workers, more protection. Luxon earlier told media he was open to looking into it.
Recordings of interactions between people were legal if one person consented. Photographs taken from public places were also considered legal.
Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith said any change to privacy laws would be “significant”, noting the current legislation was “well-settled”.
“We can sort of ask some basic questions around that, but I wouldn’t underestimate that that’s a big change.”
He cautioned against any suggestion the Government would seek a rapid change to legislation.
Both Labour and the Green Party indicated they were open to a potential law change. Greens co-leader Marama Davidson said the topic had been a point of concern in the sex worker industry and should be addressed.
