Corruption watchdog questions loophole in policy disciplining police officers

Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has taken issue with the interpretation of a recent court decision by the Queensland Police Service (QPS). CCC chair Bruce Barbour told a parliamentary committee the watchdog was "in disagreement with the interpretation". The QPS declined to respond to questions from the ABC. It is of "enormous concern" Queensland police officers found guilty of a crime who do not have a conviction recorded can not be disciplined, the corruption watchdog says. The Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) has taken issue with the interpretation of a recent court decision by the Queensland Police Service (QPS). CCC chair Bruce Barbour told a parliamentary committee the watchdog was "in disagreement with the interpretation". "Any conduct of a police officer which is so extreme in its nature that there is a criminal conviction ought to be able to be the subject of review during the course of any subsequent disciplinary process," he said. "To not be able to have regard to it means that you have an incomplete history, effectively. "We see that as presenting an enormous risk not only to QPS but also to the community." Shadow women's minister Shannon Fentiman questioned if the interpretation extended to domestic and family violence convictions. CCC senior executive officer Craig Capper confirmed it would. "The QPS can't take into account that DV information in deciding whether or not to take disciplinary action against an officer," he told the committee. He noted the police commissioner had access to all DV matters but could not then use that if it related to an officer who didn't have a conviction recorded. "The Commissioner, in one hand, can have that information for a DV purpose, but not if it relates to a police officer's discipline. Again, a matter that we're challenging." Mr Capper said the CCC was challenging 19 matters where a police officer had escaped punishment. "We say that the conduct of the officer is still liable to review and is still liable to discipline. That's where the disconnect occurs." The CCC has been previously critical of a three-year delay in establishing a police integrity unit, an independent body to bolster accountability and trust in the QPS. The unit was a key recommendation from the commission of inquiry into how the QPS responds to domestic and family violence. The QPS declined to respond to questions from the ABC. Police Minister Dan Purdie has been contacted for comment.