FILES OF ABUSE

2000: The sold computer

A man contacts Tasmania Police, raising concerns a computer he purchased from Tasmania Police contains child exploitation material. The matter is not investigated until the man contacts police again the following year.

On Wednesday, Detective Hindle explained the computer was forensically examined interstate, but the material found – images of children in bikinis – is not illegal material.

2009: Upskirting on the Spirit of Tasmania

Tasmania Police receives a notification that Griffin has been taking pictures up the skirts of young girls while working as a medic on the Spirit of Tasmania. Detective Hindle confirmed on-duty officers responded to the complaint, conducting a search warrant at Griffin’s address and finding no corroborating material.

2011: Disclosure by Kylee Pearn

Launceston General Hospital social worker Kylee Pearn has an off-the-record conversation with a police officer, telling them she told the hospital’s HR department she was abused by Griffin as a child. Ms Pearn also says HR tells her Griffin can’t be removed from the children’s ward without a criminal conviction. She doesn’t make a formal complaint, but understands that if anyone comes forward in the future, there would be a record of the disclosure by her and another victimsurvivor.

Detective Hindle confirmed no record was kept. 2011: Referral by Child and Family Services Child and Family Services tells Tasmania Police about historical abuse allegations by Griffin, but does not reveal the identify of the person involved. Police don’t follow the matter up as “there were no lines of inquiry that could be followed up”. Commissioner Hine admitted this was a “lost opportunity” – the investigator should have asked more questions and looked at the police intelligence system, which would have revealed previous concerns about Griffin. “That was one of the reasons for the apology that I made,” Commissioner Hine said.

2013: Tiffany Skeggs notification

A report is made to police about Griffin’s behaviour towards Tiffany Skeggs. A Child and Family Services officer speaks to both Ms Skeggs and Griffin, but the matter is not taken further. Commissioner Hine said the complaint wasn’t dealt with appropriately.

“The fact there were no further checks undertaken, the matter was dealt with by a CFS worker and written off in relation to the advice of the CFS worker and we didn’t go back and investigate – it wasn’t acceptable then, it isn’t acceptable now,” Commissioner Hine he said.

“We definitely have let the victim-survivor down, which I apologise for and we should have done better.”

2015: Griffin discusses child exploitation online

Tasmania Police receives “credible information” that Griffin has been discussing child abuse and child sexual exploitation online. This material is collated by the Australian Federal Police, which notifies Tasmania Police. But Tasmania Police doesn’t take any further action because of a “misfiling” error.

“It was filed inappropriately,” Commissioner Hine said. “It wasn’t done out of malice, it was done out of not paying the particular attention. Again, that’s not acceptable.”

2019: Griffin finally charged in October