Professional Standards Command Superintendent Tony De Ridder told the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission on Friday while he was aware Sergeant Christopher Taylor was subject to 16 complaints, eight of which related to allegations of assault at the time of his promotion application in 2013, he was not involved in the promotion.

“It wasn’t ideal he was promoted with the evidence of that in his history,” he told the inquiry. 

The questioning follows shocking evidence presented this week against a number of Ballarat police officers including allegations of excessive use of force.

The commission heard this week 26-year veteran Sergeant Christopher Taylor was among the worst one per cent of complained against Victoria Police officers, with a total of 18 complaints over his career.

Earlier this week video footage showed a 51-year-old female police officer being pepper-sprayed, had her clothes removed, was kicked and punched, and then dumped by Ballarat police in a cell for hours without pants or a blanket.

Questioned by Assisting Counsel Jack Rush QC about the two officers at the front of the allegations, Superintendent De Ridder said a confidentiality order during the IBAC inquiry prevented the officers being interviewed.

But he said he believed the file was still open pending the outcome of the IBAC inquiry.

“We will be revisiting this,” he said.

Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen faced another day of extensive questioning over the promotion of Sergeant Christopher Taylor on the final day of the inquiry in Ballarat.

He told the inquiry he had hesitations over Ballarat officer Christopher Taylor performing his duties as sergeant, and cannot recall signing off on the promotion.

“I certainly had reservations of his risk, hence the pending investigation,” he said.

The inquiry has concluded at Ballarat with IBAC investigations due to continue. Recommendations are expected to be made by the end of the year.