Media Release: Independent Police Oversight Body Needed in light of Weiss Report

Independent Police Oversight Body Needed in light of Weiss Report

4 July 2024

Independent Member for Nelson Meg Webb said today it is clear Tasmania needs an Independent Police Oversight Authority, following the release of the Weiss Independent Review into Paul Reynolds Final Report.

“While I welcome the Weiss Review Final Report’s recommendations to provide formal restorative justice mechanisms to strengthen the safety of victims/survivors, and strengthen the Integrity Commission’s investigative powers, these measures do not fully address the fundamental problem of police investigating police,” Ms Webb said.

“The shocking Paul Reynolds scandal, and other ongoing disquiet regarding Tasmania Police’s response to serious complaints potentially involving police officers, has badly hurt the community and damaged public trust.

“We need fundamental structural reform which removes police investigating police on all matters involving allegations of police serious misconduct.  This would actually enable the effective delivery of the restorative justice and capacity for independent investigations recommendations made by the Weiss Review Final Report.”

Ms Webb said the current internal complaints processes and the restricted reviews undertaken by the integrity Commission of those processes is perceived by many Tasmanians as little more than self-regulation. 

“The Weiss Review recommendations do not go far enough to address those structural concerns.

“Instead, we need a new, independent, adequately resourced police oversight authority to investigate all substantive complaints against police, not only for allegations of child sexual abuse, as called for by advocates, academics and lawyers.

“To restore public trust and meet community expectation, any police oversight entity must have full independent investigatory powers, and the scope to investigate all complaints involving allegations of police misconduct and serious misconduct.

“It is well established that independent police oversight bodies actually enhance trust in, and standing of police officers, once the shadow of in-house reviews and perceived ‘mates protecting mates’ has been removed.

“The secrecy of current internal reviews and risk of serious conflicts of interest undermines public confidence in our police force, does not meet modern community expectations of robust transparency, and basically fails the pub test.”

“NSW has seen fit to establish its Law Enforcement Conduct Commission which is independent from, and has oversight of, the NSW Police Force. Tasmania deserves the same checks on power in the public interest.”

Ms Webb had earlier called for an independent Police Oversight Authority during her formal response to the Governor’s speech in May.