BY: Keith Moor
heraldsun.com.au
THE police watchdog yesterday defended its controversial tactic of forcing officers to give evidence at secret hearings.
Office of Police Integrity director Michael Strong said while charges might not result from coercive hearings, they often led to allegedly corrupt officers resigning - and that was good for the force.
His annual report was tabled in State Parliament yesterday. The report:
ACCUSED supporters of Sir Ken Jones of spreading gossip to try to derail the OPI probe into the former deputy commissioner.
REVEALED the OPI has more high-level investigations currently in progress than at any time since it was formed in 2004.
CRITICISED the Baillieu Government for not having a start date for its independent, broad-based anti-corruption commission, which will replace the OPI.
ACCUSED the Brumby and Baillieu governments of ignoring frequent OPI requests to strengthen the Police Integrity Act to make it easier for the OPI to weed out corrupt police.
The OPI started 24 new investigations in 2010-11, bringing the total number of current probes to 40. Seven were suspended to allow resources to concentrate on the 32 most serious cases.
The watchdog recommended that 28 criminal charges be laid against four serving or former police employees in the past year. A further 14 had discipline charges recommended against them.
Police Minister Peter Ryan yesterday refused to answer questions relating to the OPI probe into misconduct allegations made against Sir Ken by former chief commissioner Simon Overland.
moork@heraldsun.com.au
