Extra powers to weed out corrupt police

Australia's law enforcement agencies will be given extra powers to weed out corrupt officers within their ranks once legislation passes the Senate.

Legislation for the increased powers passed the lower house unanimously on Monday.

Under the changes, suspect officers will be targeted in covert operations designed to test their honesty, and Customs will be authorised to run drug and alcohol tests on its staff.

Suspect officers from the Australian Federal Police, Australian Crime Commission and Australian Customs and Border Protection Service could be tested in simulated scenarios designed to identify corruption.

For example, valuables could be left at a fake crime scene to see if an officer steals them, or false information put into a database to catch a person suspected of leaking intelligence.

The legislation also doubles the number of agencies under the eye of the corruption watchdog, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity.

The powers of the Customs boss have been strengthened to allow drug and alcohol tests and orders sacking officers for serious misconduct.

The Law Enforcement Integrity Legislation Amendment Bill 2012 now passes to the Senate.

watoday.com.au 29 Oct 2012

Another farce in the face of the masses.

This is just an illusion to give to the masses to show that there is (allegedly) something done about corrupt police.

There reality is that nothing will come of it.

The Office of Police Integrity (OPI) is another corrupt authority.

No police officers go to jail for the criminal activities they commit, it is not in the politics for this to occur.

Corrupt police overseeing corrupt police.