Tasmania hearings call for independent police oversight — ABC News Australia

A parliamentary inquiry in Tasmania, Australia, heard from representatives of organizations working with survivors of sexual and family violence. They said that victims of alleged abuse by police officers may be afraid to report such incidents because of close ties among police personnel.

As ABC News Australia reports, the hearings are examining how adequately Tasmania Police responds to allegations of misconduct by its own officers.

Victims’ concerns

Alice Whitmore, a policy specialist at Laurel House, a support service for survivors of sexual violence, said victims are concerned about interconnected relationships between police officers at work and outside it. According to her, people fear they will not be believed, as well as possible retaliation by police in other areas of their lives.

Laurel House advocacy manager Katie Graham said there is a perception of a culture of mutual protection among police officers, which her organization calls the “blue code of silence.” She noted that in cases where the alleged perpetrator is a police officer, the response should take into account the power imbalance, personal ties, and a potential conflict of interest.

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Bree Clerke, chief executive of the Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance, said Tasmania is a small jurisdiction with close social ties. In her view, under such conditions it is difficult for Tasmania Police to investigate serious allegations involving its own employees.

Oversight proposals

All organizations that spoke at the hearings recommended creating an independent reporting channel not connected to Tasmania Police. Nicole Asquith of the Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance said an independent body should provide oversight and investigate breaches of the code of conduct, the police manual, and criminal law.

Laurel House also proposed abolishing the six-month time limit for filing complaints about police misconduct. Whitmore said none of the people she surveyed had filed a complaint within that period.

In a written submission, Tasmania Police said it supports effective and independent oversight of serious cases of police misconduct. The agency acknowledged that the case of police officer Paul Reynolds exposed problems in historical procedures for reporting, investigation, escalation, and decision-making. The parliamentary inquiry will continue next week.