BALLARAT’S top cop has spoken out for the first time since last week’s harrowing hearing examining allegations of serious misconduct at Ballarat Police Station.
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The Independent Broad Based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) saw 13 witnesses, including a number of Ballarat police officers, questioned over alleged excessive use of force by some Ballarat police officers.
In a written statement Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen admitted it had been a difficult few weeks for Ballarat police officers.
Superintendent Allen criticised some media reporting of the hearing – saying it was neither fair to the Ballarat police or the community.
He also criticised a Sunday Age article that stated the Superintendent turns up to crime scenes. Superintendent Allen said this was a key example of his desire to lead from the top.
Superintendent Allen maintained officers were respected, citing a community satisfaction survey, stating Ballarat police enjoy a community confidence five per cent higher than the state average.
“The fact is, there is a tremendous bond between the city of Ballarat and its police,” Superintendent Allen said.
“Our members are deeply proud to serve, and enjoy strong support from the community.”
Shocking footage aired during the hearing was made public. It showed police officers using excessive force on four different women.
Closed-circuit footage showed a woman being forced to drink toilet water when she discovered the water fountain in her cell was not working.
IBAC revealed complaints against Ballarat police officers was three times that of similar sized stations in the state. Superintendent Allen said it would be inappropriate for him to comment directly on the hearing, during which Assisting Council Jack Rush QC stated complaint levels against officers remained constant and high.
“I continuously monitor and review all matters involving public concerns including where when service delivery requires examination,” he said.
ANDREW ALLEN’S OPINION PIECE
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission completed five days of hearing into Ballarat Police at the end of May and found a high rate of complaints against officers. Evidence and footage presented to the commission have grabbed media headlines across Australia. Now Ballarat’s top policeman has answered back.
There is no doubt it has been a difficult few weeks for the police in Ballarat; the IBAC hearing has made for grim reading in the newspapers.
And whilst I am unable to comment directly on these proceedings whilst the investigations are continuing (to do so would be blatantly inappropriate and disrespectful to all parties involved), I am compelled to point out a number of assertions in the article published in The Sunday Age on May 29th which were ill-informed and do not represent contemporary policing in one of Victoria’s largest regional cities which now boasts over 100,000 people and is growing rapidly towards 120,000 over the next few years.
The fact is there is a tremendous bond between the city of Ballarat and its police. Our members are deeply proud to serve, and enjoy strong support from the community.
This is evidenced by the National Survey of Community Satisfaction with Policing which shows police in Ballarat enjoy a community confidence rating of 92.1%, five per cent higher than the state average.
That is not to say it’s an easy job. The challenges of policing our community are numerous.
Our growing population means increased calls for police services in the areas of crime, domestic violence, mental illness, public order and road policing to name just a few which are responded to 24 hours a day, 365 days every year.
It’s a tough, demanding job which we take very seriously, as we do our commitment to strong ethical performance. I continuously monitor and review all matters involving public concerns including when service delivery requires examination.
Where corrective action is identified it is enacted through my leadership and management team.
On a personal note, I make no apologies for the observation made in The Sunday Age story that I have been known to turn up at crime scenes and help manage traffic when road accidents have occurred. Leading from the front is a key virtue for all police, and I will always support my members whenever and wherever I can.
I regularly receive positive feedback from other community leaders across Ballarat and other Local Government Areas I am responsible for, acknowledging the difficult and complex work police undertake.
These are people who live and work in this area who, on a daily basis, see the police assisting those who need service and reassurance.
I believe the wider community understands the challenges police face in their roles and am confident the people of the greater Ballarat area support our efforts in reducing crime, domestic violence and road trauma across this most liveable and safe community.
Andrew Allen APM
Superintendent
Ballarat Police Division