CCC in dodgy data probe
THE Crime and Corruption Commission is looking into the dodgy data police scandal, it can be revealed.
A report by the Auditor General released to State Parliament late last month was scathing of crime statistics on the Gold Coast, having found police were pressured into fudging figures.
The Gold Coast Bulletin reported that police whistleblowers who drew attention to the issue were “shafted” and given their marching orders from Surfers Paradise.
A police source told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “The CCC was at Coomera police station last week. They were interviewing officers and interested in getting their feedback to the Auditor General’s report.
“There is a feeling (among police on the beat) that there has been unreasonable management action.”
The Queensland Police Union last night confirmed it had made an official complaint to the CCC. QPU secretary Mick Barnes said “we were left with no choice other than to lodge formal complaints with the CCC” about the conduct of senior officers towards those who raised issues.
“The police department’s hierarchy on the one hand pays lip service to try and encourage officers to come forward with complaints yet at the same time when police actually do come forward they appear to be targeted with retribution by the very same management that previously encouraged them to come forward,” he said.
The Bulletin understands the CCC is also looking at why the whistleblower officers were split up within a week of making an official complaint and forced to pack up their desks in Surfers Paradise.
In a letter to the Auditor General, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart complimented the role of the whistleblowers, saying “I would like to acknowledge those QPS officers who came forward to help identify the crime reporting issues”.
A CCC spokesperson in a statement yesterday said: “The CCC is currently assessing matters relating to the reporting of crime statistics by the QPS including items raised in a recent Queensland Audit Office report. It is important to note that an assessment is not an investigation. As this matter is under assessment the CCC is unable to comment further.”