Queensland police discriminated against 200 potential male recruits in favour of women, report finds
Two hundred men missed out on joining the Queensland police force because recruiters discriminated against them in favour of women, a new report states.
The Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission has said the state police service’s 50/50 recruitment strategy resulted in discriminatory practices being used against male candidates.
Instead of advertising some positions exclusively for female candidates, the commission found that Queensland police recruiters discriminated against 200 eligible male candidates between 2016 and 2017.
The commission’s report, which was tabled in parliament on Wednesday, said in some cases ineligible women had been selected over male applicants who had performed to a higher standard across entry assessments.
“If the various discriminatory practices had not been implemented, the CCC estimates approximately 200 more meritorious male applicants would have been successful in their attempt to join the QPS,” the report stated.
The commission said: “What started as a nobly intended strategy was poorly communicated to front line staff who were tasked with its implementation and discriminatory practices were implemented to achieve its goal.”
The CCC chairman, Alan MacSporran QC, said the QPS recruiting section used misleading, deceptive and false reporting practices about recruitment. He said management knew discriminatory practices were being used and provided misleading and deceptive information to QPS executives.
The report said part of the problem was that the then-police commissioner,
Ian Stewart, never clarified whether the 50/50 target was real or aspirational.
“Among the executive, no one appears to have given any serious thought to – or asked any critical questions about – a strategy that would affect the whole organisation for years to come,” MacSporran wrote.
“This report is important for the public sector because this type of conduct could happen in any agency. I encourage all public sector executives and Queensland’s public servants to read the report and especially consider the larger questions this report poses about organisational integrity.”
The CCC said there was not enough evidence to take criminal action against those involved but disciplinary measures were appropriate.
The current police commissioner, Katarina Carroll, said three QPS employees had been suspended in the wake of the report while a fourth had already left the force.
“The conduct alleged in this report is completely disappointing, and can I reassure the public that this alleged behaviour does not meet the standards or expectation of our Queensland police officers and dedicated staff,” she said in a statement.
Carroll said six women identified in the report who were recruited despite failing to meet the minimum entry standards had successfully graduated from the academy.
She said the assistant commissioner Charysse Pond would conduct a review of recruitment practices to strengthen transparency and ensure the episode was not repeated.
“I am committed to independent, transparent and impartial entry testing for all prospective police recruits,” Carroll said.
“When I was sworn in as commissioner, I said that while it is important to be inclusive and diverse, we should always take the best possible applicants regardless of their gender or ethnicity.
“The public, as well as our own police officers, rightly expects no favours or preferential treatment for any applicant.”