Dispensing With Privacy Provision Of Police Complaints Authority Unnecessary Says Police Association
“The purpose of the privacy provisions of the PCA legislation is to protect the privacy of members of the public and internal police whistle blowers who make complaints against police officers. This protection ensures the full facts are obtained following such a complaint”, Police Association President Greg O’Connor said today
Mr O’Connor was commenting on the proposed legislation which will remove the privacy provisions of the Police Complaints Authority to allow the Commission of Inquiry to proceed.
“The need to access such information could easily been achieved by simply giving the Commissioners of Enquiry the temporary powers of the PCA to enable them to look at the information they seek without putting at risk the original reasons for privacy in the legislation. The Association would support such legislation as it would ensure the Commissioners get access to the information they require without overriding the need for complainants, witnesses and whistle blowers’ identities to remain confidential” said Mr O’Connor.
“The Police Association is in no way attempting to protect offending police officers past or present. We do believe however it is essential that anyone providing information to the PCA now or in the future should be able to do so secure in the knowledge that they will not be publicly identified. Failure to do so is likely to hamper investigations against police in future thus defeating the purpose of civilian oversight of police.” Mr O’Connor concluded.
