The Queensland police service (QPS) will re-examine discipline cases against officers accused of racism, sexism, bullying and harassment, after evidence of widespread problematic behaviour and “inappropriate” light punishments at an inquiry.
At the inquiry into police responses to domestic violence last week, the QPS commissioner, Katarina Carroll, was confronted with dozens of examples of cases where officers engaged in acts of sexism, racism or misogyny.
Most were dealt with via a process called “local management resolution” (LMR) – a remedial conversation – rather than a formal punishment. In some cases these men were subsequently promoted.
On Friday Carroll apologised to victims of problematic behaviours by police officers and committed to reviewing an unspecified number of cases, with a view to removing some of them from the QPS.
“I have asked for a number of matters where I am not satisfied with the outcomes to be reviewed again,” Carroll said.
“We will be doing everything we can … to ensure these people are no longer part of the QPS.”
It remains unclear whether Carroll has the ability to sack officers who have already been investigated under the controversial police discipline system.
The QPS could not, for instance, sack the former police officer Neil Punchard, even after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of computer hacking, including leaking the details of a domestic violence victim to her former partner. The trigger arrived only when an appeals court upheld a conviction and suspended prison term.
The premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has said she is open to considering a “no-confidence” power that could be given to Carroll to dismiss certain officers, though no such power exists under current legislation.
The Queensland Police Union has said it will oppose any measure that removes industrial rights from officers.
Carroll said she would be reviewing matters through the lens of current legislation and that the widespread use of local management resolutions was being assessed.
“If there are cases where I can show cause against members who should not be in the organisation, I will take that action,” Carroll said.
“I have bolstered our staff and added additional capacity in the ethical standards command.
“It needs to be very clear: the QPS won’t accept behaviour like this raised in the commission of inquiry.”
Carroll had initially opposed the inquiry, claiming it was not needed. She later declined an initial invitation to appear.
The matters raised were almost all known to the QPS.
Carroll was asked why it had taken an inquiry for police to accept the gravity and the totality of these incidents.
“We’ve known about some of these predators, definitely taken action against them,” she said.
“What wasn’t well known, thankfully for the commission of inquiry, was the use of the LMRs.
“This is an opportunity to reset, to call it out, to say this will not be tolerated.”
In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14 and the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. In the UK, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123 and the domestic abuse helpline is 0808 2000 247. In the US, the suicide prevention lifeline is 1-800-273-8255 and the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Other international helplines can be found via www.befrienders.org
