Explosive revelations continue to plague Victoria‘s embattled police service, with claims now emerging that a handful of officers have been sexually praying on the victims of domestic violence.
The force was already under extreme pressure thanks to a sexual harassment scandal that is seemingly growing by the day.
But now Fairfax Media has delivered a damning investigation that claims some officers have been taking advantage of – or at least attempting to – the vulnerability of victims of crime, but that an imminent report from the Victorian Human Rights and Equal Opportunities Commission will reveal that harassment and discrimination within the state’s police force is on par with, and perhaps even worse than, that present within the Australian Defence Force.
The small handful of offending officers in question have allegedly been using their positions of power to form, or attempt to form, civil and sexual relationships with the victims of domestic violence cases, whom they have come into contact with through their investigating of the victim’s abuse.
It’s understood that very few, if any, of those women affected formally report the officers’ wildly inappropriate behaviour because they believe they will not be taken seriously.
Though at least some have in fact made initial complaints to police Internal Affairs units, none have subsequently gone on to make formal statements or press criminal charges against the offending officers.
One of the officers in question is reportedly known within the force to be a repeat offender and chronic harasser of female colleagues.
Victoria Police responded to Fairfax’s allegations in a brief statement that read, in part:
“We do not believe that this issue is widespread across the force. The majority of our officers joined the job because they want to help people.”
“We encourage any person who feels that they have been mistreated by an officer to contact Professional Standards Command or IBAC. Protecting and supporting victims is an absolute focus for Victoria Police.”
Senior Victorian Police officials are reportedly bracing themselves for the release of findings from the Commission’s report, which are believed to be “damning.”
If you have experienced sexual assault, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732.
Complaints about inappropriate police conduct can be made to the Independent Broad-Based Anti-Corruption Commission, or the Professional Standards Command.
