Special report concerning illicit drug use by Victoria Police officers: Operations Apsley, Hotham and Yarrowitch
- Recommendations
- 2
- Report length
- 50 pages
Summary
The report's own summary: Overview, pages 7 to 11
Generated summary: written by an AI model from the report text and checked against the cited pages.
IBAC reported on illicit drug use by Victoria Police officers and the systems intended to prevent and detect it.
IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 8
It drew on Operations Apsley, Hotham and Yarrowitch, which examined drug use and officers’ associations with criminal figures.
IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 8 · IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 9
IBAC found that illicit drug use had become routine within a connected group of officers and identified weaknesses in policy, recruitment and drug testing.
IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 9 · IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 10
It made two recommendations for a comprehensive review of police drug use and controls, followed by progress and final reports on improvements.
IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 11 · IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 45
In the body's own words
- Finding
Operation Apsley identified a group of interconnected police officers for whom illicit drug use was an accepted and regular part of their social lives.
IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 9
- Opinion
IBAC considers the investigations detailed in this report are likely to represent only snapshots of a more widespread and serious problem for Victoria Police.
IBAC_Special_report_drug_use_Victoria_Police_Rq9krmmj, page 11
Findings, opinions and statements
Allegations are not findings. A commission's finding or opinion of corrupt conduct or misconduct is not a finding that a person is guilty of a criminal offence, and the commissions say so in their reports.
No findings are reproduced in this record. This does not establish that the report contains none.
Recommendations 2
Recommendation 1
The Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police undertake a comprehensive review of the use of illicit drugs by Victoria Police officers, as well as associated policies, systems and practices to inform the development and implementation of a more robust framework to prevent and detect police illicit drug use. This review should consider, among other things: • the development of clear policy on the use of illicit drugs and the consequences of such use by officers, with reference to contemporary best practice • strengthening recruitment processes and policies to more effectively identify and manage risks • the adequacy of the current drug testing regime and how it can be improved • improving training and communication to clearly and regularly reinforce Victoria Police’s position and response to illicit drug use by its officers • appropriate welfare and support arrangements for officers detected using illicit drugs, including those who voluntarily disclose their use of illicit drugs.
Recommendation 2
The Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police to provide IBAC with a progress report by 30 June 2017 and final report by 30 June 2018 on development and implementation of a more robust framework to prevent and detect police illicit drug use. These reports will be published on IBAC’s website.
Published responses
Responses to this report have not been checked.
Notes on this record
- Tabled: Legislative Assembly 2017-02-08; Legislative Council 2017-02-07.
Coverage
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