Bad choice of friends cost police their jobs

OFF THE WIRE
BRIAN ROBINS
August 11, 2010

POLICE are under-reporting so-called ''improper associations'' and a number of policemen have been forced to resign after internal investigations by the Police Integrity Commission.

The PIC has warned that there is a ''high level of risk'' to the police force from ''improper associations'' of members of the force such as friendships between policemen and outlawed bikie gangs.

In a submission to a state parliamentary inquiry into ''improper associations'' of members of the police force, the PIC found that even though complaints about these associations account for less than 2 per cent of all complaints lodged, there is a ''heightened level of adverse consequences''.

Members of the police force are supposed to report all instances of improper associations, which are associations with friends, family members or other associates, which may leave the officer open to being manipulated.

However, the committee was told yesterday there is widespread under-reporting, which was blamed by both the PIC and senior police force personnel as being due to a lack of recognition of the likely problems that can result.

Research undertaken earlier this year by the PIC, and presented to yesterday's hearing into the matter, found that ''very few police officers with a known improper association made a written declaration regarding their association''.

Of 100 complaints randomly chosen by the PIC, 85 were studied, with 24 found to involve cases of improper association that had not been registered. In nearly all cases, warnings, counselling, criminal charges or notices requiring removal of the officer from the police force ensued.

Ultimately, four were removed from the police force, with consideration for the removal of another officer under way as the report was being compiled. In nearly all cases, the improper association involved a friendship, the commission noted.

''The low level of compliance … is disturbing,'' the NSW Ombudsman said in his submission to the inquiry, which was tabled yesterday. All allegations of improper association must be advised to the Ombudsman's office as they involve integrity.

Over the past year, the Ombudsman has been made aware of cases involving friendships between policemen and members of bikie gangs, the leaking of confidential information about police investigations, and friendships with known users of or dealers in drugs, he said in his submission.

Other cases involved attempts to influence criminal investigations, and claims of police seizing a large amount of drugs without charging the person in possession of the drugs.