The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has highlighted several incidents, issues and risks involving Victoria Police’s Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) in a new report.
IBAC Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour said the special report, Police misconduct issues and risks associated with Victoria Police’s CIRT, identified repeated failures of CIRT officers to accurately report their use of force.
Ms Kilgour said the Report also identified a lack of adherence to the Charter of Human Rights, inadequate risk assessment and planning processes, and poor communication by some CIRT officers when responding to incidents.
“Despite the difficult nature of CIRT’s work, responding to and dealing with high-risk incidents, officers are expected to uphold Victoria Police values, which include safety, integrity, respect, and professionalism,” Ms Kilgour said.
She said the Report found risks and vulnerabilities that undermined CIRT, and the professional standards expected of officers with their level of specialist training, weapons, and expertise.
“Inconsistencies in reporting reduces the transparency of CIRT’s use of force on members of the public,” the Deputy Commissioner said.
“Inadequate risk assessment processes increase the risk that CIRT officers will use force on members of the public that may result in serious injuries,” she said.
“This is particularly relevant to CIRT due to the nature of the incidents to which it responds and the additional weapons CIRT officers regularly use.”
IBAC made six recommendations to Victoria Police of which Ms Kilgour said a key recommendation was for Police to improve the accuracy of, and compliance with, its use of force reporting
She said further recommendations aimed to strengthen how CIRT undertook operational risk assessments, and to ensure consistency in how officers were deployed while also making sure CIRT officers were clear on their role when they attended incidents.
IBAC’s 67-page Report can be accessed at this PS News link.
