Warning: This story discusses alleged sexual assault.
A former police recruit who raised concerns about an alleged sexual assault by a police doctor says the hierarchy's failure to act is a damning indictment on the organisation.
A second former recruit has told Newshub she felt the concerns she and others raised were "a dirty secret" the police "desperately tried to ignore."
The comments come as the Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) released a scathing report into police inaction, despite multiple complaints about the doctor over 15 years.
Newshub agreed not to identify one former police recruit, but she was one of many who complained to police about their in-house doctor over the way he conducted medical examinations.
She said her concerns were ignored.
"They did absolutely nothing about it. They took no responsibility or accountability for removing the doctor," she told Newshub.
- If you have more information, contact Michael Morrah in confidence on michael.morrah@wbd.com
It was one of the final steps to joining the police - a medical examination. But on arrival to see the doctor, she was told to strip to her underwear.
"Bending over and touching your toes while he stands directly behind you, with a g-string on," the former recruit said.
What followed was a penetrative examination of her anus, which she told Newshub made her feel "violated".
She was young with no concerning history, like family with bowel cancer.
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) president Samantha Murton told Newshub asking a patient to strip is "unusual" and rectal examinations should only occur on certain occasions.
"For young, fit people, unless there is a significant history and some specific reason, that would not be common in a physical examination."
This former complainant said she relived the ordeal for years and an investigation found she's not alone.
The findings:
- Concerns were raised seven times by recruits about the doctor between 2002 and 2015 but "police failed to act"
- That was until they initiated a review in 2019 but only after a complaint was made with the IPCA
- The review was later called "inadequate" by the police watchdog.
"What sort of confidence is that going to give the public by knowing this information, if they can't even protect their own people."
Another former recruit told Newshub "she was not listened to" and her concerns and that of others were "ignored", which has eroded her confidence and trust in police.
The women told Newshub: "I feel as though we are their dirty little secret they have been desperately trying to ignore."
The police watchdog said: "We find it unacceptable that police continued to contract Dr Z for medicals up until 2016, when several recruits had raised concerns about his behaviour over a period of about 15 years."
Deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura told Newshub it "certainly is disappointing".
"From my perspective, we've let some people down that worked for us and worked hard for us."
Deputy Cmmr Kura said she's met with some of those who raised concerns.
"I have apologised and I think that's the least that we could do is apologise."
An apology for not doing the very job the former recruits and the public expect.
If you have witnessed or experienced sexual harassment or assault and would like to speak to someone, you could call the HELP support service.
Auckland: (09) 623 1700 or visit helpauckland.org.nz
Wellington: (04) 801 6655 or visit wellingtonhelp.org.nz
