NEWS > 07 August 2006

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NEWS.com.au - Australia
07 August 2006

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Toll-free number for prisoners

PRISONERS now have a toll-free direct line to the State Ombudsman's office to complain about police.

But the Office of Police Integrity denied it is trying to drum up complaints after failing to prosecute a single officer in 18 months of operation.
A spokesman for the police corruption watchdog also denied it offered inducements to prisoners to name corrupt police.

"Of course the OPI talks to prisoners, because they often make complaints," he said.

"There is definitely no suggestion of financial inducements. We can categorically say the OPI has offered no inducements along those lines."

A Corrections Victoria spokesman confirmed the 1800 hotline in prisons.

"This number gives inmates the same access to the independent watchdog as everyone else, and is similar to prisons in other jurisdictions," he said.

"Prisoners have to pay for other telephone calls."

The revelation comes just days after one of Victoria's most respected officers branded the OPI as unprofessional and biased.

Insp. John Noonan, who retired on Friday as the head of the Special Operations Group, said the OPI was more interested in headlines than evidence.

Police Association secretary Sen-Sgt Paul Mullett last month accused the OPI of "grand-standing" after it raided the armed offenders squad.

"With the millions of dollars being spent on the OPI, our view is that with its little return and its public displays of justifying its existence, our members and the community don't have confidence in the OPI," he said.

The OPI's budget this year is $16.2 million -- up $6 million from last year. Mr Conroy said some OPI investigations had led to disciplinary action against police officers, while exonerating others.

He said OPI reports tabled in Parliament included reviews of police information handling, informer management, fatal police shootings, witness protection and unauthorised use of information.

"The OPI has generated public discussion about important issues involving police conduct," Mr Conroy said.

"It understands that it will, on occasions, be the subject of vocal criticism . . . while performing its role independently without fear or favour.

"It will remain focused on improving the ethical health of Victoria Police on behalf of the community and the police force."

The State Government created the OPI after calls for a royal commission into the force.

Police Minister Tim Holding yesterday defended the OPI.

"The vast majority of Victoria Police members do the right thing and behave in an exemplary way," he said.

"Nevertheless, there does need to be an independent framework for investigating complaints."

"That's why the Office of Police Integrity was established. The investigations carried out by this office are often very complex and take time to complete."

Earlier this year, Privacy Commissioner Paul Chadwick accused police of inadequate complaint handling after the private files of 90 people were mistakenly sent to a woman in country Victoria.

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Article sourced from

NEWS.com.au - Australia07 August 2006

Toll-free number for prisoners

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NEWS.com.au - Australia
07 August 2006