Make no mistake about it that Victoria Police is corrupt to the core, where the media is told what information to release via the police media liaison officer.
Victoria Police is covering up an enormous amount of criminal activity within its organisation.
Let's just take a look at one aspect that Herald Sun publication wrote (text only version) on the 25th of Sep 2017 under the headline;
Victoria Police officers probed over over criminal and disciplinary sex offences
VICTORIA’S Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton says there is still a long way to go to end workplace sexual harassment within Victoria Police.
Mr Ashton today apologised to those in the force subjected to attacks and
harassment by sexual predators in their workplace.
A taskforce set up to probe criminal and disciplinary sex offences committed
by police has investigated more than 100 cases and is still probing a further
80, as reported by the Herald Sun this morning.
The report was released today.
Of the current investigations into sexual harassment and discrimination,
two-thirds occurred after the release of the first report in December 2015.
“We’re still seeing harm perpetrated in the workforce,” Mr Ashton said this
morning.
“We’re still seeing considerable resistance to change and ... change slow to
progress in a number of areas.”
But the Chief Commissioner said there was evidence of change and the efforts
of Taskforce Salus were “making an impact”.
“This is not a progress we give up and walk away from,” he said.
“We’re seeing we are making a difference and that motivates us to continue.”
Mr Ashton apologised to all women in Victoria Police who had experienced
harm and sexual harassment in the workforce.
Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission head Kristen Hilton
said today’s review should be a celebration of progress made so far.
“It’s the individual and collective strength that comes from being bold and
brave enough to create the change … to disrupt the structures that can underpin
and shape your workforce,” she said.
Almost all the victims of criminal and disciplinary sex offences committed
by police are female Victoria Police officers or public servants.
“The fact that some within our ranks continue to harm their colleagues is
appalling,” Mr Ashton says in the report, released today.
“I want everyone to know that these behaviours will not be tolerated. Perpetrators will be identified and held to account.
“We know that there is still harm occurring and I again apologise on behalf of our organisation to all of those who have experienced it.”
Three of the Victoria Police employees Mr Ashton is appalled by have so far been sacked and a further 23 have resigned from the force while being investigated over sex allegations made against them.
All the 184 sex complaints — which include alleged criminal behaviour and alleged disciplinary offences — have been made to the force’s Taskforce Salus since the damning phase one report by the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission was released in December 2015.
That dossier revealed the force was riddled with systemic sexual predatory behaviour, sexual harassment and sex discrimination.
The phase two report was released today.
Figures provided to the Herald Sun yesterday reveal at least eight Victoria Police employees have been accused of rape since the phase one report and 12 female force members have laid sexual assault complaints against co-workers.
Taskforce Salus is also investigating nine commissioned officers of the rank of Inspector or above for matters including sexual harassment and inappropriate relationships with others in the force.
Victoria’s chief police commissioner urged those who suffer persecution during the marriage equality debate to seek police assistance in a video posted to social media on Wednesday, August 30. “The recent same-sex marriage debate can leave many community members feeling vulnerable,” Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said. “If you need help, or witness any form of prejudice motivated crime, please speak to the police.” A same-sex marriage postal survey is under review by the High Court after it was proposed by the Federal Government earlier in August. The Australian Bureau of Statistics is charged with running a postal survey on same-sex marriage. Results of the survey are due to be published on November 15. Credit: Victoria Police via Storyful
Police Commissioner Urges Those Persecuted During Marriage
Equality Debate to Seek Police Support.
At least a further 20 police have faced disciplinary charges over sex related offences investigated by Salus detectives.
The most senior officer so far sacked, disciplined or charged since the phase one VEOHRC was released in December 2015 is a senior sergeant.
None of the officers of the rank of inspector or above who are being investigated by Salus detectives have been disciplined or charged yet, but some have been formally admonished and ordered to undergo workplace guidance programs.
Victoria Police assistant commissioner Luke Cornelius yesterday said there had been a spike in the reporting of sexual offending by police since the phase one VEOHRC report came out in December 2015.
“So we have got to a point now where we have a significant number of investigations that are ongoing,” he said.
“We have got 184 Taskforce Salus investigations launched since the phase one report.
“Almost two-thirds relate to conduct that has occurred since the report was released.
“We have had, since the phase one report, 26 departures. Now I use the term departures because a lot of people resign ahead of the posse.
“So once they are aware the report has been made, and that they are being formally investigated, an increasing number of members are electing to resign.
“I think their decision logic is that yep there has certainly been a shift here, but they are also seeing that the Police Association is taking a much more robust view around this stuff and they are seeing that the Police Review Service Board has, over the past 12 months, made some very significant and important decisions around upholding decisions to dismiss.”
Offences allegedly committed by the 23 police officers who resigned while under investigation in the past 18 months include:
SEXUAL assault of a Victoria Police member.
PREDATORY behaviour towards multiple Victoria Police employees.
TOUCHING and sexual comments towards Victoria Police employees.
SEXUAL grooming behaviour towards victims of family violence.
INDECENT assault.
SEXUAL harassment towards Victoria Police officers.
INAPPROPRIATE relationships with Victoria Police employees.
Mr Cornelius yesterday said the message was getting through to everybody from Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton down that any member displaying even mild sexism or harassment had to be told such behaviour isn’t appropriate.
“I have seen, sitting at command meetings and at other senior management forums, one of our colleagues might say something that is out of place and he, and typically it is a he, has certainly been called out in the moment,” Mr Cornelius said.
“And absolutely I am also aware that the Chief Commissioner has personally engaged in addressing behaviour with a number of executives.
“Graham has always been very clear about his expectations and Graham is not backward in calling people to account where he sees their behaviour falling short.”
Mr Ashton said the phase one VEOHRC report of December 2015 prompted him to commit Victoria Police “to the most significant cultural reform in our history”.
“I did this because the evidence was overwhelming — Victoria Police was not a safe place for its employees,” he says in the latest VEOHRC report being released today.
“We are not shying away from tackling the most serious offending head on.
“Taskforce Salus has sought tirelessly to weed out perpetrators from within our organisation, while protecting victims and linking them with welfare support.
“Some serious offenders have been exited from the organisation, many charged with criminal offences.
“Taskforce Salus is not ending. It will remain an ongoing necessity for as long as these behaviours continue within our ranks, aided by an increased confidence among our employees to report workplace harm as the culture changes.
“The deep-rooted change we are seeking will take sustained and determined commitment from all of us, and I want everyone to know that we will stay the course.”
The VEOHRC report released today also revealed:
VICTORIA Police now allows paid lactation breaks for members who choose to breastfeed or express milk at work — and provides facilities for them to do so.
THE force made a conscious decision to use gender-neutral language in its new workplace flexibility policy to ensure trans and gender diverse employees, particularly transgender men, who become pregnant get access to the same flexible practices and work facilities pregnant women and mothers have.
CHIEF Commissioner Graham Ashton is determined to stamp out what he described as “the entrenched culture of everyday sexism that has been normalised within our organisation for too long”.
SOME senior leaders in Victoria Police are continuing to fail to exhibit appropriate behaviours and attitudes.
VICTORIA Police has adopted a strategy aimed at ensuring 50 per cent of recruits in every squad of trainees are women and that ultimately half of the entire force will be female — women currently make up 32.4 per cent of the force.
Unspeakable is a podcast produced by Victoria Police. It offers a rare glimpse into the real life cases and the people behind them. Over six episodes, you'll hear from investigators, experts, victim-survivors, bringing their stories out from the shadows and into the light reality.
Victoria Police podcast 'Unspeakable' looks at shocking
sexual assault cases
MORE needs to be done to support and elevate key voices within Victoria Police, including those of women and lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse and intersex staff and members who have been subject to harm.
THERE is an organisation-wide gender pay gap of 9.5 per cent in favour of men, with the average salary for females being $78,508 compared with $86,734 for men.
The Herald Sun has been told that so many Victoria Police force members have been sexually harassed or assaulted that it could cost tens of millions of dollars to compensate them.
Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius said thousands of female officers and support staff could be eligible for payments under a scheme the Andrews Government has been asked to set up and fund.
The VEOHRC has recommended that a body based on the Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (DART) scheme be established to redress the harm suffered by Victoria Police employees.
VEOHRC boss Kristen Hilton yesterday said it was crucial that Victoria gets something similar.
“I know police have been advocating to Government to set up that scheme,” she told the Herald Sun.
“It’s probably a question for Government in terms of where they are at with that decision-making.
“But I think it is absolutely imperative that wherever the money is found, or wherever the resourcing is found, that it does happen as soon as possible.”
The DART program was set up by the former Gillard Government in 2012 to compensate victims of sexual and physical abuse in the Australian Defence Force.
By the time the DART scheme ended last year it had paid out $66 million to 1723 complainants, with some of them getting up to $45,000 each.
Mr Cornelius said Victoria Police, the Police Association and VEOHRC had all made submissions to the government saying the DART scheme was their preferred option for the recommended Victorian model.
He said a VEOHRC survey of almost 5000 Victoria Police employees revealed a disturbing number of females in the force had been sexually harassed and that those victims would be eligible to apply for compensation under the proposed scheme.
“Forty per cent of female respondents in our organisation indicated they had, over their service with Victoria Police, personally experienced sexual harassment,” Mr Cornelius said.
“Now we know what the formal complaint numbers are and they are certainly in the hundreds, but if you apply that 40 per cent over the female strength of our organisation you are potentially looking at several thousand claimants.”
A damning independent mental health review has uncovered bullying, sexism and harassment within the MFB
MFB review uncovers bullying, sexism and harassment
“Victoria Police has undertaken significant work to support the creation of a redress and restorative engagement scheme,” it says.
“While acknowledging the financial implications for the Victorian Government, the (VEOHRC) considers it important that the scheme delivers on both the financial and restorative elements of the scheme, and ensures payments cater for the broad range of harms experienced.”
In the absence of the formal redress body the Andrews Government is yet to commit funds to, Victoria Police and the VEOHRC have taken it upon themselves to jointly organise 12 conciliations so far in which victims have been able to tell their story and get financial compensation for the harm they suffered.
The phase two VEOHRC report being released today examines Victoria Police’s response to the recommendations the phase one VEOHRC report made to tackle rampant sex discrimination, sexual harassment and predatory behaviour in the force.
It praises Victoria Police’s actions since the phase one VEOHRC report was released.
“Victoria Police did not shy away from the findings detailed in our 2015 report,” VEOHRC Commissioner Kristen Hilton said in the phase two report.
“In a public demonstration of the organisations leadership and dedication, it accepted and committed to all 20 recommendations in full.
“Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton publicly and sincerely apologised for the harm caused to all present and past employees, and has since led the charge with both determination and humility to effect change.
“In another admirable act of leadership, Victoria Police committed to continuing to do this work in the public eye and with our external oversight and scrutiny, including through two audits of the organisation’s progress.”
Ms Hilton said significant achievements the force had made since the 2015 report highlighted the problems included:
EXTENSIVE work to redesign the internal discipline system to ensure a more efficient, timely and victim-centric response to problematic behaviours within Victoria Police.
CREATING the OneLink workplace harm unit to triage and case manage all complaints relating to sex discrimination and sexual harassment.
ESTABLISHING Safe Space, an independent and confidential phone service for people to seek assistance and support.
CONDUCTING programs to foster women’s leadership capability.
INTRODUCING a revised flexible workplace policy.
“Creating the foundations for change takes time. Creating attitudinal and behavioural change may take even longer,” Ms Hilton said.
“Transforming the culture of a workforce that has served the community for 165 years is an enormous task, and this job has just begun.
“There is still significant work to be done across all 20 recommendations and there is still resistance to some of this work.”
Assistant commissioner Luke Cornelius says the force has had to stop referring to one man stations as one man stations.
The placing of women like leading senior constable Julie Bruce in rural and remote areas to work by themselves means a one person station is now the appropriate term.
Mr Cornelius cites her, and a handful of other females in one person stations, as perfect examples of why there is a clear business case for Victoria Police to aim to have half its workforce being women.
The 50-50 target was recommended in the phase one VEOHRC report, which was released in December 2015.
”Following the release of the report, out in Horsham, in the west, we had the opportunity, on the basis of merit, for the first time in the history of policing out in that part of the world, over 100 years, to appoint three female members to one person stations,” Mr Cornelius said.
“Now prior to their appointment we had no issues with family violence in those communities, we had no issues with mental health in those communities — because it simply wasn’t being reported to us.
“When those three female officers started work there the communities opened up and we had women who were concerned about the mental health of their farming husbands.
“We had women who were being abused and were the subject of years and years of family violence, finally they were able to come forward because they saw a person in a blue shirt who was their gender. They saw someone they could relate to.
“There are communities now who are getting a service that has been denied to them for over 100 years and they are getting that service now because we have put women in those roles.”
The three western district one person stations Mr Cornelius was talking about are in Apsley, Speed and Harrow.
Leading senior constable Bruce is based at Apsley, near the Victoria-South Australia border.
“Your eyes and ears are your best asset in policing in a small community,” she said.
“Often I’ll find out about issues long before they would come under the interest of police in larger centres.
“It enables me to deal with issues such as family violence in their infancy, reducing the possibility of any further contact or police involvement.”
Det-Supt Deb Robertson made page one with her dispute with
Victoria Police.
One of the force’s most senior detectives is still known as the chick that killed off the police midweek footy competition.
Detective Superintendent Deb Robertson is called that because in the 1990s she took Victoria Police to the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.
She did so after the force refused to let her work the four-day week she wanted to help her care for her three young children.
It came out in evidence during the hearing that she covered for her male detective colleagues while they were being paid to play in the emergency services footy comp on Wednesdays during work time.
Yet her bosses wouldn’t let her take one day off a week — without pay — for family reasons.
She eventually won the battle in 1998 and it made front page news in the Herald Sun.
“So I carry the legacy to this day as being the one that destroyed midweek football,” she said yesterday.
“The boss at the station at the time was the president of the Eastern Tigers and he put out flyers that said the footy is on this week, big day, we are playing Southern, get the vans down there to cheer on.”
Det-Supt Robertson blazed the trail for others to follow.
Part time work, working from home, and flexible working hours are the norm in the force now.
“I have a lot of men and women coming in to me and saying ‘thanks boss’ and that’s because all they have to do is put in a form requesting a flexible work arrangement,” she said yesterday.
“Getting mine was a two year process that wound up in the discrimination tribunal.”
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