Criminal conflicts

Watchdog slams Vic Police

THE corruption watchdog has uncovered damning evidence of major flaws in how Victoria Police investigates its own for misconduct including sex assaults and leaking to criminals.

The Independent Broadbased Anti-corruption Commission audited 59 of 221 investigations completed by Professional Standards Command in 2015-16, selecting the more serious complaints.

It found that in 95 per cent of cases, there had been no checks for any conflicts of interest between the investigators and the accused officers.

And it disagreed with the outcome in 15 per cent of cases, finding evidence of “inadequate action”. These included two cases in which disciplinary charges were downgraded.

Most cases were also classed as “preliminary inquiries”, even when crime or corruption had been alleged.

The commission assessed whether the investigations were thorough and impartial, and met the standards required for handling such serious allegations.

Cases it audited involved allegations of assault, improper criminal associations, use or possession of drugs, sexual offences, handling of stolen goods, making threats to kill, interfering in investigations, and misuse of information.

Commissioner Robert Redlich, QC, said the commission had made clear recommendations on how to address the deficiencies it had identified in the Professional Standards Command’s handling of some of the more serious complaints. These deficiencies included poor management of conflicts of interest, probity concerns, failures to consult the Office of Public Prosecutions, inadequate action, and inappropriate file classification.

Mr Redlich said Victoria Police had accepted all the commission’s recommendations. Victoria Police was “already taking action to address some of the issues identified”, he said. RUNNERS will pound the ground for the Surf Coast Trail Marathon, but organisers are aiming to leave a light footprint.

The fifth edition of the race, to be held next Saturday, has a strong environmental theme.

A new partnership with Patagonia will see the company’s new documentary, Takayna, screened in its Torquay store on Friday night.

The film follows activist Nicole Anderson and former Greens leader Bob Brown’s attempt to use trail