Taukolo was paidtens of thousands of dollars to access sensitive material for organised criminals, including information about an operation targeting a multimillion-dollar Mexican drug deal.
The NIU, consisting of a team of specialist investigators, is based at Police National Headquarters in Wellington.
The unit receives information from a wide variety of sources, a majority of which is either incomplete or potentially unreliable, police say.
Each case is referred to as a “matter”, and undergoes fact-finding until it can either be corroborated or expanded on in order to advance it to an investigation or it is closed off as being without substance or merit.
Figures released to the Herald on Sunday under the Official Information Act reveal that as of April 6, there were 25 active investigations into 28 staff.
To date six staff have been charged, three of whom are still before the courts.
The three people before the courts comprise a former staff member from Counties Manukau facing one dishonesty charge, a Northland District staffer facing two firearms relates charges and a staff member in the Canterbury District facing multiple dishonesty-related charges.
Brearna Kelsi Sloss is alleged to have repeatedly stolen money while at work, ranging from as little as $20 to $300. Photo / George Heard
A police spokesperson would not confirm who the staff were facing the charges, however, the Herald on Sunday understands the Canterbury staff member is Brearna Kelsi Sloss.
Sloss, a constable based at the Christchurch Central Police Station, is alleged to have repeatedly stolen money while at work, ranging from as little as $20 to $300.
The 31-year-old faces eight charges of allegedly having control of the property in circumstances that she knew required her to deal with the property in accordance with the requirements of any person, namely Superintendent Lane Todd and intentionally dealt with the property otherwise and committed theft.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of seven years’ imprisonment.
She also faces five charges relating to allegedly accessing a computer system, namely the police’s National Intelligence Application and the police record of property application and thereby dishonestly and without claim of right obtaining a pecuniary advantage.
The total amount allegedly stolen is $1100. The offending allegedly occurred between November 2021 through to April 2022.
Two other police staff have been convicted for dishonesty following NIU investigations, while another police officer received a discharge without conviction in 2020 for alleged drug dealing.
Figures also reveal that between January 31, 2020, to April 4, 2023, 449 matters have been referred to the NIU.
Counties Manukau has had 67 matters, while Canterbury had 46, Auckland City 41 and Waikato 38.
Brearna Kelsi Sloss is one of three police staff currently before the courts as a result of National Integrity Unit investigations. Photo / George Heard
Police National Headquarters, Royal New Zealand Police College staff, national workgroups and communications centres are in one group with 51 matters.
Acting director of the NIU, Inspector Nick Thom, told the Heraldthe unit was set up in 2020 to “bolster police’s capability to protect against the risk of corruption” and where necessary, investigate corruption within police.
“Police has zero tolerance for this behaviour, and wants to ensure our organisation is protected, particularly as organised criminal groups attempt to grow and expand.
“We hold high expectations for our staff to live the police values and conduct themselves with utmost integrity, and we will not hesitate to hold them to account if their behaviour falls short of this.”
Thom said the number of incidents investigated and put before the courts showed the police’s commitment to this.
“The National Integrity Unit assures organisational integrity and the wellness of our people by being a leading voice in highlighting and preventing the kind of vulnerabilities that enable corruption.
“It also provides high-end investigative and intelligence capability, subject matter expertise and oversight of allegations of criminality and Code of Conduct breaches involving police employees.”
Police Minister Ginny Anderson told the Herald on Sundaythe establishment of the NIU demonstrated police’s commitment to “ensuring the organisation is protected from corruption”.
“The NIU and its investigations are an operational matter for police so it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.”
National’s police spokesperson Mark Mitchell said he believed New Zealand had the “most professional” police service in the world that was “largely free of corruption”.
He said it was important these standards were “maintained and protected”, adding that both the Independent Police Conduct Authority and the NIU had an “important role to play in ensuring our police service remains free of corruption.”
“An effective police service requires high levels of public confidence and support. A highly effective, professional, and corrupt-free police service will continue to earn respect and maintain the support of the public they service.”
