Inquiry to probe Vic police discipline process
12:21 PM February 28
The Office of Police Integrity (OPI) has announced an inquiry into the Victorian police force's disciplinary process.
It says the current process has too many weaknesses and can take far too long.
OPI director George Brouwer says it has been frustrated by a number of aspects of the system, including the time it takes for a corrupt officer to be dismissed.
Mr Brouwer says the inquiry will be far-reaching and is long overdue.
"It will be everything, it will be the whole discipline process," he said.
"It will look at interstate and overseas experience, it will look at the kind of weak points.
"What we're trying to achieve is a fair but speedy and finalised discipline system, in order to deal with people who've got serious problems of corruption."
Mr Brouwer says the inquiry will be a defining issue for the police union.
"Does it represent the majority of police who are professional and want to work in an ethical force, or does it want to throw all its weight and effort behind protecting or basically supporting people who have got serious question marks about them?" he said.
Police Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon says she backs the OPI review.
"I think it's about having fair powers that are well-respected and understood by all the members of Victoria Police and the Victorian community," she said.
"So I'm keen to make sure we have a regime that's fair and decent and is effective as well." Source: ABC
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