Members may have noted various press reports on the weekend regarding the release of hundreds of confidential police files by the Office of Police Integrity (OPI).

Comments criticising the Director of the OPI, Mr George Brouwer, which are attributed to The Police Association, appear in some of those reports.

The basis of the Association’s public position on this matter is two-fold.

Firstly, the Association is of the view that it is unacceptable for Mr Brouwer to casually dismiss such a serious breach as a clerical error. The disclosure of highly confidential and sensitive police files is a security breach of the highest order and Mr Brouwer, as the OPI director, should be held to account.

The Association is therefore of the firm view that Mr Brouwer should step down pending a full investigation undertaken from outside of the OPI, and not from within. This leads to the second criticism outlined by the Association.

The Association’s position in relation to an investigation of the OPI and Mr Brouwer on this matter is that it must be undertaken by an external body independent of the OPI. It is a clear conflict of interest for such a serious investigation to be undertaken from within the OPI itself. This is totally inappropriate.

The Association will be making submissions to the Police Minister regarding these matters.

PAUL MULLETT

Secretary