Victoria’s anti-corruption watchdog will further investigate whether senior Ballarat police managers did enough to address the station’s high rate of complaints and alleged excessive use of force incidents.
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The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission released damning findings this week, against police officers in Ballarat who were caught stripping an off-duty policewoman, who had been arrested, before kicking and stomping on her.
The investigation exposed “serious deficiencies” in the way this particular incident was handled, as well as concerns about the duty of care afforded to other vulnerable people at the police station.
IBAC commissioner Stephen O’Bryan said in his report evidence suggested Ballarat members predominantly used 'hands on' force and it was ‘almost certain’ that use of force was being under-reported at the Ballarat police station.
He said it did not appear in the evidence submitted, steps were taken to inform and educate Ballarat officers that 'hands on' force should be an action of last resort.
Senior managers at Ballarat police station will be subjected to further investigation.
“The attitude and tone set by senior managers is critical in steering a positive organisational culture and promoting integrity,” he said. “Whether or not senior managers at Ballarat did enough to address the risks and make it clear inappropriate use of force would not be tolerated, is a matter IBAC intends to further examine with Victoria Police.”
Ballarat Superintendent Andrew Allen has strongly refuted the proposition Ballarat officers were more inclined to use ‘hands on’ force.
Ballarat Inspector Bruce Thomas also told the inquiry statistics provided by Ethical Standards in the complaint summary were ‘flawed’. He said the complaint numbers were inflated because 40 of the 157 allegations attributed to the Ballarat Police Service Area related to a number of units not under his command.
IBAC made four recommendations, including human rights training for officers, and said the government should consider decriminalising public drunkenness.
Victoria Police has lodged a prosecution brief with the Office of Public Prosecutions requesting advice on whether to lay charges against the officers involved in the incident with the woman in custody.
Melissa Cunningham
City of Ballarat and Social Affairs Reporter
City of Ballarat and Social Affairs Reporter
