Detective Inspector awarded $15k in Northland police bullying case

A recent inquiry has cost the Northland police $15,000 after an Employment Relations Authority (ERA) ruling found that Detective Inspector Bridget Doell was bullied and ostracized by her colleagues, revealing a culture of resistance within the Criminal Investigation Branch. The ERA determined that Doell, who has 30 years of service and is the first female to hold this position in Northland, faced gender-based hostility and exclusion from 2020 to 2023. The New Zealand Police was deemed to have failed in providing a safe working environment, breaching its health and safety obligations, which ultimately led to Doell’s job transfer to Auckland.

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