[Greens-Media] Threat of Uncontrolled Operations unacceptable

[Manderson, Roland]

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ACT GREENS MLA DEB FOSKEY MEDIA RELEASE
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5 Aug 08


Threat of Uncontrolled Operations unacceptable


Greens MLA Dr Deb Foskey expressed her concerns about giving broad new
powers to ACT Policing and the Australian Crime Commission to engage in
what would otherwise be criminal behaviour, in the absence of effective
anti-corruption mechanisms.

"Unlike other jurisdictions which are able to exercise close oversight
and control of their police forces, the ACT has no such power.  ACT
policing only has to submit a limited report once a year to the Attorney
General" Dr Foskey said today.

"NSW has the Independent Commission against Corruption.  Other
jurisdictions have similar bodies.  We rely strongly on the AFP to
oversight ACT Policing.  I agree with the AFP Association that the
Haneef case has undermined the public's faith in the independence of the
AFP.  The ACT needs its own anti-corruption body." 

"The ACT Government should demand greater accountability and control
over our police force. Trusting the AFP's anti corruption body, ACLEI
(the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity) to detect and
root out corruption and incompetence is irresponsible. The former head
of ACLEI said the body needed a tenfold increase in investigation staff
and substantial extra funding to be effective."

"The Commonwealth and ACT Ombudsman has no power to order reforms or
prosecutions, and needs AFP cooperation to investigate corruption
allegations. Ombudsman oversight is a welcome but clearly inefficient
and inadequate level of oversight."

"We shouldn't pretend that the AFP is immune to corruption. Mark Standen
was an AFP officer for 10 years before moving into greener pastures at
the NSW Crime Commission.  Controlled operations powers increase the
level of temptation and increase the likelihood of corruption.  We owe
it to ACT Policing to ensure that their integrity is not compromised" Dr
Foskey said.



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Roland Manderson   Media Advisor
ACT   Greens    MLA  Deb  Foskey  
Legislative Assembly for the ACT 
ph(02)62050551      m 0412241379
==== www.act.greens.org.au ===== 
  
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