News (Media Awareness Project) - Australia: Spotlight On Internal Police Quiz |
| Title: | Australia: Spotlight On Internal Police Quiz |
| Published On: | 1999-07-22 |
| Source: | Mercury, The (Australia) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-06 01:41:25 |
SPOTLIGHT ON INTERNAL POLICE QUIZ
AN investigation is under way into whether former members of the Northern
Drug Bureau were harassed and intimidated by senior police during a
corruption inquiry.
The move comes after a policewoman audiotaped a conversation she had with
two high-ranking internal investigators.
The conversation is believed to have lasted about an hour and took place
before the policewoman was formally interviewed on video by the investigators.
In 1993, a Supreme Court of Tasmania ruling in the case of R v Stewart was
highly critical of police informally interviewing suspects prior to
conducting formal, electronically recorded interviews.
Justice William Zeeman's ruling severely restricted police from conducting
pre-interview interviews, except under exceptional circumstances.
Assistant Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Luppo Prins is conducting the
investigation, and has been given a copy of the tape.
Police Commissioner Richard McCreadie would not comment on the matter
yesterday, saying through a spokesman that he had "no intention of
canvassing any issues at all, implied or otherwise, surrounding the Northern
Drug Bureau inquiry".
The policewoman, a constable, also refused to comment yesterday when she was
contacted by The Mercury.
It is understood that she has not yet made a formal complaint about her
treatment at the hands of investigators.
The policewoman is one of nine people who were transferred to a new position
as a result of an 18-month investigation into the dealings of the Northern
Drug Bureau.
A team of eight investigators handled the inquiry, which was sparked by
allegations from members of the public.
A sergeant and former member of the drug bureau was charged with drug
dealing and perverting justice and sacked from Tasmania Police.
He has pleaded not guilty and appealed his dismissal.
In an unprecedented move a month ago, the entire Northern Drug Bureau was
disbanded with all seven members and two former members - including the
policewoman transferred to other positions.
AN investigation is under way into whether former members of the Northern
Drug Bureau were harassed and intimidated by senior police during a
corruption inquiry.
The move comes after a policewoman audiotaped a conversation she had with
two high-ranking internal investigators.
The conversation is believed to have lasted about an hour and took place
before the policewoman was formally interviewed on video by the investigators.
In 1993, a Supreme Court of Tasmania ruling in the case of R v Stewart was
highly critical of police informally interviewing suspects prior to
conducting formal, electronically recorded interviews.
Justice William Zeeman's ruling severely restricted police from conducting
pre-interview interviews, except under exceptional circumstances.
Assistant Commissioner (Crime and Operations) Luppo Prins is conducting the
investigation, and has been given a copy of the tape.
Police Commissioner Richard McCreadie would not comment on the matter
yesterday, saying through a spokesman that he had "no intention of
canvassing any issues at all, implied or otherwise, surrounding the Northern
Drug Bureau inquiry".
The policewoman, a constable, also refused to comment yesterday when she was
contacted by The Mercury.
It is understood that she has not yet made a formal complaint about her
treatment at the hands of investigators.
The policewoman is one of nine people who were transferred to a new position
as a result of an 18-month investigation into the dealings of the Northern
Drug Bureau.
A team of eight investigators handled the inquiry, which was sparked by
allegations from members of the public.
A sergeant and former member of the drug bureau was charged with drug
dealing and perverting justice and sacked from Tasmania Police.
He has pleaded not guilty and appealed his dismissal.
In an unprecedented move a month ago, the entire Northern Drug Bureau was
disbanded with all seven members and two former members - including the
policewoman transferred to other positions.
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