The upper levels of the NSW Police Force find themselves in crisis mode, and the implications for the state could be profoundly disturbing. The revelations that the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has executed search warrants at the homes of at least three senior officers last week are a deeply troubling development for an organisation that relies on public trust.
The nature of the allegations – that senior police accepted the free services of sex workers courtesy of former brothel owner and high-profile gambler Eddie Hayson – is sordid. The Herald’s chief investigative reporter, Kate McClymont, and crime reporter Perry Duffin reveal that sources say CCTV footage from a decade ago has emerged showing at least two senior officers visiting the then-Hayson-owned inner-west brothel Stiletto.
Hayson, 57, is awaiting trial over the supply of large commercial quantities of prohibited drugs following an arrest by officers targeting an organised crime group. There is no suggestion that Hayson has any connection to or knowledge of the LECC raids.
The Herald has also obtained a 2017 complaint to the force’s own Professional Standards Command detailing allegations about the connections of one officer to Hayson, and senior officers are reportedly concerned they might have been photographed at private parties at a house once linked to the former brothel owner.
These allegations against senior officers go to the heart of police integrity. While there is no suggestion of guilt by police or Hayson, and no finding of misconduct has been made, the investigation casts a shadow over the force.
In the 10 months since the Herald made public the investigation, the officers have remained in their roles. Now the top brass faces a difficult choice – leave raided officers in vitally important positions or stand them down without any insight into the LECC’s timeline, or the voracity of its sources.
Standing the officers down would also probably reveal them as the target of the raids and potentially permanently tarnish their reputations and faith in the force, even if later cleared.
Premier Chris Minns rightly notes that standing the officers aside is a decision best made under the guidance of the LECC and NSW Police. Minns has also called for the investigation to be completed as quickly as possible, given that “NSW Police have a big job in front of them”.
He is again correct. Thousands of officers go to work every day to serve the state, often in dangerous and thankless circumstances. Frontline officers do not deserve to have the integrity of the force called into question.
However, if the premier is serious about speeding up investigations, he must provide the tools. In its annual report last October, the LECC issued a blunt call for greater powers. Currently, the watchdog has no statutory right to force information out of police. It can only request and hope for co-operation. This is an absurdity for a body charged with oversight.
The report also warns that when information is provided, it is often de-identified, hampering the watchdog’s ability to properly investigate. If the government wants results, it should look to close these legislative gaps.
Ultimately, it is in the best interests of the public, the government and the police for this matter to conclude swiftly. Transparency is the only cure for the current crisis.
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