NEWS: The Age - 24/09/08 'Police staff to stop work over drug mismanagement claim'

[hoptis]

Police staff to stop work over drug mismanagement claim
September 24, 2008

EXPERTS from the Victoria Police forensic drug and alcohol branch will in effect cease work from today after demanding a vote of confidence from Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon following claims of mismanagement of drug exhibits.

The decision to cease work threatens to delay drug prosecutions and drink-driving and drug-driving cases. It will also stop the analysis of seized chemicals.

The Age revealed on Monday that the Ombudsman has been called in to investigate claims that drugs listed as destroyed had been kept and chemicals recorded as in storage could not be located from the forensic science laboratory in Macleod.

A meeting of 25 staff from the drug and alcohol division at the laboratory voted to refuse to attend court to give evidence or complete analysis reports until senior police issue a statement rebutting claims made against them.

Community and Public Sector Union state secretary Karen Batt said: "Forensic staff refuse to wait another month while the Ombudsman investigates a whistleblower complaint and their reputations remain impugned.

"Forensic staff from the drug and alcohol branch will cease issuing reports and attending courts because of the risk to their health and safety."

A spokeswoman for Ms Nixon said it was impossible to issue a statement of support while the allegations were being investigated by the Ombudsman. "As this is a whistleblower matter, we will not be making any further comment," she said.

JOHN SILVESTER

The Age

 

[mushi mushi 88]

Looks as though some of the police officers are pocketing some of the drugs and keeping others their to take later on down the track...

To be honest I don't think their would be to many honest cops around these days, the temptation to make some extra cash on the sides would be to much to resist... I know if I was a cop I would be a dirty one!

 

[phase_dancer]

No doubt about it, Vic police and related departments are a law unto themselves.

Hopefully, this will be pealed wide open. Forensic departments should have the tightest record keeping. If not, it says lots about the unreliability of any claim, report, analytical finding etc issued.