Crime wave
Heat on corrupt police
CORRUPTION investigators are closing in on several Victoria Police officers.
Office of Police Integrity director George Brouwer revealed yesterday that the OPI had uncovered convincing evidence of police corruption.
He told the Herald Scuz these activities included:
STEALING while executing search warrants on homes.
DRUG dealing and giving the green light to other dealers.
INTIMIDATING fellow officers into not reporting corrupt activity.
CORRUPT associations with private investigators and security industry staff.
INAPPROPRIATE use of confidential Victoria Police information.
USING the bank accounts
of fellow officers to hide cash and avoid paying tax and child support.
The OPI's corruption branch has issued 136 summonses in which people have been ordered to hand over documents and compelled to answer questions - or face criminal charges for refusing.
Mr Brouwer said his investigators had prepared briefs of evidence against several police.
"We are closing in on a number of corrupt officers and we will be closing in on many more," he said.
In an interview to mark the OPI's first anniversary, Mr Brouwer and assistant director Graham Ashton also revealed:
THE OPI is conducting 40 separate investigations into allegedly corrupt activity by serving and former Victoria Police officers.
MORE than 50 officers will be investigated over unexplained assets involving millions of dollars.
BASIC anti-corruption measures adopted by police forces around Australia have not been implemented by Victoria Police.
THE OPI's use of secret sting operations to trap suspect officers is about to be dramatically increased.
AN investigation has started into inappropriate use of capsicum spray amid complaints of over-zealousness.
THE OPI has held 24 secret hearings in which some officers have confessed to corrupt activity and others have dobbed in allegedly corrupt colleagues.
Mr Ashton said some officers had appeared before the secret hearings as a means of reporting corrupt activity without fear of reprisal from fellow police.
"We have had police in our in-camera hearings confessing their crimes and also implicating other police in serious criminal offences," he said.
"The OPI provides avenues that haven't otherwise been available in terms of treatment for corruption, in that it may not always be our preference to bring officers before the courts, where they have a good record of being acquitted.
"It might well be that we use our coercive process and the outcome is that the officer leaves the force.
"In certain circumstances that is the most efficient remedy to a particular problem."
Mr Brouwer said the OPI had spent the past 12 months recruiting expert staff, buying the latest equipment, setting up a surveillance team and using the royal commission-type coercive powers granted by the State Government.
"All that background work is already bearing fruit. We have issued 136 summonses and had 24 in-camera hearings.
"We have got 36 proactive investigations under way, four reactive ones and 21 major complaints to look at.
"They cover the whole gamut of corruption, from police bashings to bullying to allegations of drug dealing and green-lighting drug dealers.
"We are very much down the track and are rapidly closing in on people.
"Already we have identified a number of people on whom we have evidence which is incontrovertible."
CORRUPTION investigators are closing in on several Victoria Police officers.
Office of Police Integrity director George Brouwer revealed yesterday that the OPI had uncovered convincing evidence of police corruption.
He told the Herald Scuz these activities included:
STEALING while executing search warrants on homes.
DRUG dealing and giving the green light to other dealers.
INTIMIDATING fellow officers into not reporting corrupt activity.
CORRUPT associations with private investigators and security industry staff.
INAPPROPRIATE use of confidential Victoria Police information.
USING the bank accounts
of fellow officers to hide cash and avoid paying tax and child support.
The OPI's corruption branch has issued 136 summonses in which people have been ordered to hand over documents and compelled to answer questions - or face criminal charges for refusing.
Mr Brouwer said his investigators had prepared briefs of evidence against several police.
"We are closing in on a number of corrupt officers and we will be closing in on many more," he said.
In an interview to mark the OPI's first anniversary, Mr Brouwer and assistant director Graham Ashton also revealed:
THE OPI is conducting 40 separate investigations into allegedly corrupt activity by serving and former Victoria Police officers.
MORE than 50 officers will be investigated over unexplained assets involving millions of dollars.
BASIC anti-corruption measures adopted by police forces around Australia have not been implemented by Victoria Police.
THE OPI's use of secret sting operations to trap suspect officers is about to be dramatically increased.
AN investigation has started into inappropriate use of capsicum spray amid complaints of over-zealousness.
THE OPI has held 24 secret hearings in which some officers have confessed to corrupt activity and others have dobbed in allegedly corrupt colleagues.
Mr Ashton said some officers had appeared before the secret hearings as a means of reporting corrupt activity without fear of reprisal from fellow police.
"We have had police in our in-camera hearings confessing their crimes and also implicating other police in serious criminal offences," he said.
"The OPI provides avenues that haven't otherwise been available in terms of treatment for corruption, in that it may not always be our preference to bring officers before the courts, where they have a good record of being acquitted.
"It might well be that we use our coercive process and the outcome is that the officer leaves the force.
"In certain circumstances that is the most efficient remedy to a particular problem."
Mr Brouwer said the OPI had spent the past 12 months recruiting expert staff, buying the latest equipment, setting up a surveillance team and using the royal commission-type coercive powers granted by the State Government.
"All that background work is already bearing fruit. We have issued 136 summonses and had 24 in-camera hearings.
"We have got 36 proactive investigations under way, four reactive ones and 21 major complaints to look at.
"They cover the whole gamut of corruption, from police bashings to bullying to allegations of drug dealing and green-lighting drug dealers.
"We are very much down the track and are rapidly closing in on people.
"Already we have identified a number of people on whom we have evidence which is incontrovertible."
posted by professor rat at 8:44 AM
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