The Victorian Greens have called on the Victorian Labor Government to urgently establish an independent police ombudsman, in response to an IBAC report released earlier today.
The report – which looked at how Victoria Police had responded to previous recommendations made by the anti-corruption watchdog – found that despite some improvements, there remained significant risk of dodgy behaviour.
In particular, IBAC found there were ongoing risks associated with the use of force reporting, conflicts of interest and declarable associations, as well as notetaking and statement making.
Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Katherine Copsey, said the report outlined the litany of Victoria Police misconduct over recent years.
She added that IBAC simply didn’t have the power to force the systematic cultural change required in Victoria Police, and that an independent police ombudsman would help clean up the troubled organisation.
Earlier this year, the Yoorrook Justice Commission recommended that the Victorian Labor Government establish and adequately resource a new independent police oversight authority to investigate, monitor and systematically review Victoria Police.
Yet Labor has consistently delayed reforming the police oversight system since 2019, with its most recent ‘Systemic review of police oversight’ having stalled for ‘targeted consultation’.
The Greens also support IBAC’s calls for the Chief Commissioner to be able to lay disciplinary charges after receiving a report from IBAC, and for IBAC to be able to publish its recommendations to police and other agencies.
As stated by Victorian Greens justice spokesperson, Katherine Copsey MLC:
“Police shouldn’t investigate police.
“Yet because IBAC doesn’t have the power or resources for police oversight, that’s exactly what’s happening.
“An independent police ombudsman would help clean up the culture of Victoria Police by providing more scrutiny and independent investigations.
“The Yoorrook Commission was clear and unequivocal, the government must urgently create a purpose-built independent police oversight authority.”
