Networked Knowledge - Media Report

[This edited version of the report has been prepared by Dr Robert N Moles]

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On 5 December 2007 the West Australian / AAP reported “Police union embraces new corruption watchdog call”.

It said that Victoria’s police union has reversed its long-held opposition to the establishment of an independent corruption commission. The Police Association has called for a body similar to the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption to replace the Office of Police Integrity, Eastern States newspapers reported today. Previously, the union said an independent commission was unnecessary and would divert resources away from the force. The union’s executive yesterday said an independent commission was needed because it would not be limited to investigating police corruption like the OPI, the report said. Such a body should be headed by a Supreme Court judge and have coercive powers and the authority to call witnesses, the association’s legal manager, Sen. Sgt Greg Davies, said. “The endorsement of a crime commission is consistent with the association’s long-held philosophy that police should be treated no differently than other members of the public,” he said.

The comments come after union secretary Paul Mullett and president Brian Rix were forced to give evidence at a public OPI hearing into the leaking of confidential details about a murder investigation. Mr Mullett has been suspended from the force. Mr Davies said the public hearing was merely a chance for the OPI to “name and shame” some people, rather than present evidence that could lead to criminal charges over the leak. “We strongly believe that the time is ripe for a properly funded and properly resourced agency to be established by parliament to oversee investigations across the entire community,” The call was backed by the Victorian opposition. But a government spokesman rejected the idea, saying the OPI had unprecedented powers and had already laid more than 100 charges.

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