Venkat Raman
Auckland, November 20, 2024
Increased attention to community safety, a more structured approach to the sources of social menace including gangs, reduction of youth crime, fresh thinking to bring violent offenders to justice quickly and closer working relationships with the ethnic communities are likely to be the working style of the new Police Commissioner Richard Preston Chambers.
His appointment to the top post in the New Zealand Police was announced by Police Minister Mark Mitchell this morning (November 20, 2024).
He will take charge on Monday, November 25, 2024, on the day Indian Newslink marks its Silver Jubilee at the 15th Edition of the Annual Indian Newslink Business Awards at Pullman Hotel, Auckland CBD.
Commissioner Chambers, who has just returned from France where he was heading the Crime Branch of Interpol, is expected to assume charge immediately.
His predecessor Andrew Coster resigned six months before the end of his contract and has since taken charge (on November 11, 2024) as the Secretary and Chief Executive of the newly created Social Investment Agency under Finance Minister Nicola Wills.
Mr Mitchell described Mr Chambers as a ‘highly respected leader with a deep understanding of frontline Policing.’
“His operational experience and proven record of delivering effective change in complex and challenging operational environments will be a major asset as we continue to deliver on our law and order programme,” he said at a press conference convened in Wellington to make the announcement and introduce Commissioner Chambers.
About Mark Mitchell and his expectations
Mr Mitchell joined the New Zealand Police in 1989 and was a member of the Dog Section and Armed Offender’s Squad. During his time in the Dog Section, he and his dog Czar were stabbed during an armed encounter in Rotorua. Czar made a full recovery, but Mr Mitchell took time for full use of his right arm.
After leaving the Police, Mr Mitchell went overseas and launched an international business career, including the start-up of his company specialising in Hostage Rescue, Supply Chain Security, and Risk Management. Working closely with the World Economic Forum, he helped establish logistic emergency response teams that provided humanitarian support in countries hit by natural disasters, such as the Philippines, Pakistan, and Haiti. He was also a member of the executive management team of several global companies, including one of the biggest logistics companies in the world.
Mr Mitchell has strong expectations from the Police Commissioner. In his Letter of Expectation to the previous Commissioner he said, “I expect police to be using the full force of the law and the tools and resources it has available, to significantly disrupt gang and organised crime within communities across New Zealand. The position would require ‘strong and decisive leadership’ to overcome significant challenges to law and order. My expectation is that that leadership is evident,” he said.
About Richard Chambers
A graduate of Commerce (BCom) from the University of Auckland, Commissioner Chambers earned his and an Executive Master’s degree in Public Administration from the Australia New Zealand School of Government, he joined the New Zealand Police in 1996 and worked in various capacities across the Police Districts in the country.
Among them were Manager, Strategy, Policy and Performance; Relief District Commander in Wellington; Southern and Area Commander in Lower Hutt; District Commander Tasman and later Auckland City District, Assistant Commissioner Investigations, Serious and Organised Crime (including Cybercrime and Financial Crime).
In 2020, he was appointed Assistant Commissioner for the Police Districts of Northland, Waitemata, Auckland City, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Eastern and Central. He was also the Co-leader of the Covid-19 Response Team.
From February 2024 to date, Commissioner Chambers was Director, Organised and Emerging Crime at Interpol, Lyon, France. As an Officer on deputation, he had a special role in the Olympics 2024 Games. Interpol is the world’s largest international Police organisation with 196 countries as its members.
Commissioner Chambers said on his website that his responsibilities in Policing over the years have presented challenges and opportunities, many of which have required a focus on building resilience.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my years in Policing. I feel privileged to be a Police Officer in New Zealand and I am looking forward to many more years of Policing ahead,” he said.
