The Australian Federal Police have acknowledged the recent report about the widespread, terrifyingly-high rates of sexual harassment, bullying and sexual assault within their ranks.
The report, authored by Elizabeth Broderick, found that approximately 30 staff members had been victims of rape or attempted rape in the past five years.
The study also found that a huge 46% of women and 20% of men had reported being sexually harassed or abused, and absolutely flooring 66% of women and 62% of men reported being bullied.
The report received its data from a survey of 2000 AFP staff, and focus group discussions with 1000.
AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin addressed media in a press conference late yesterday, and admitted that the processes within the national police force to deal with these kinds of complaints were inadequate.
“The report has exposed pockets of behaviour that I can only describe as criminal. I think the organisation will be shocked at these findings. I think the public will be shocked at these findings.Let me be very clear: if there are criminal behaviours, they will be dealt with, because we have to take a stand on this. We cannot be an organisation of law enforcement integrity if within our own organisation we have people who are flouting the rules.”
Broderick included 24 recommendations in the report, and Colvin has confirmed that the AFP will be implementing all of them immediately.
The most urgent of these recommendations is to be an independent office which will investigate complaints and help the person involved, which the commissioner described as “a safe place”.
President of the Australian Federal Police Association, Angela Smith, has praised the response, and said the soon-to-be implemented changes are “a huge step forward”.
“I have had members in tears talking to me about their issues with bullying in the workplace. Nine times out of 10, the outcome offered to the victim is being moved to another area.”
Some of the specific incidents in the report are horrifying – particularly for women.
In the report, women speak of being referred to as “just a vagina”. One woman is cited as saying that after being promoted, she was told that she “must be give good blow jobs”. Another said she was moved to another role because she wouldn’t sleep with her coordinator. Others spoke of being groped or flashed.
Another woman is quoted as saying, “I was assaulted by an executive a few years ago. I didn’t report it because I have a lack of faith in how the executive would handle it.”
A report speaks of a man who sexually assaulted a colleague, and was not discharged. A peer said that the man “should never be allowed to have any authority over women.”
Andrew Colvin has promised that the new processes would ensure confidentiality, so AFP officers who have been through sexual harassment at work are not “revictimised every time they tell their story”.
“I ask all of those members, both past and present, to reconsider bringing them forward. The processes that we have put in place today will be different.”
Source: SMH.
Photo: Cameron Spencer / Getty.
Domestic violence is never acceptable. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call 1800 RESPECT on 1800 737 732. If you feel you have ‘crossed the line’, contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 for anonymous and confidential telephone counselling. If you are in immediate danger, call 000.
