2024-07-18
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has today tabled its investigation report into Operation Harrisdale - an investigation into a car crash in the NorthConnex and allegations of a police cover-up.
The report details an investigation into a senior police officer known only as AB who crashed his car after allegedly consuming 23.5 standard drinks, lied about it in official police records and attempted to commit insurance fraud. The officer (whose identity is to be kept secret for the next 40 years) reported both in his insurance claim and police safe driving entry that he fell asleep at the wheel with no mention of alcohol.
The report describes acts of deliberate impropriety by police, the routine deletion of messages among officers, and makes clear the need for further resourcing and expanded powers for an independent watchdog, finding ‘a number of ordinary misconduct processes only occurred after questions were asked by the Commission’s Oversight Investigator.’
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice Sue Higginson said, “The Harrisdale report paints a damning picture of how police leadership instinctively protect themselves and their own.”
“When a senior officer crashed a vehicle while drunk and committed insurance fraud, police pursued ‘arm’s length’ internal investigations and stated their main concern was that the officer ‘got through the ordeal with as much support as possible’. This, Harrisdale finds, is not unusual.”
“The impunity was full throttle on this occasion. Without LECC oversight and public scrutiny, it does not appear that NSW police would have issued media statements about the initial incident, or followed basic internal accountability measures following the incident. This is the culture at NSW police and it is unacceptable,”
“This was outright lying and gross misconduct from a senior member of the force and it was enabled by an embedded culture of impunity and coverup at NSW police,”
“It’s alarming that police officers are routinely deleting work messages out of apparent concern they could be made a matter of public record. The Commissioner must set the record straight and put and end to this practice immediately,”
“When police do the wrong thing, they must be held accountable and the public must know. Instead, this officer maintained his prestigious position, continued to hold his driver’s licence and was immediately given access to another police vehicle. It was only when the LECC started asking questions three months after the accident that a safe driving panel was established,”
“We simply don’t have an effective police integrity and accountability system. The LECC does excellent work, but it is reactive, has limited resources and powers and is routinely obstructed by police in the courts. A police force we can trust requires a watchdog with proactive powers and teeth,” Ms Higginson said.