[Greens-Media] MEDIA RELEASE: Greens urge cultural change at Victoria Police to better protect Victorian women

[Amanda Sharp]

MEDIA RELEASE:  Greens urge cultural change at Victoria Police to better protect Victorian women

Wednesday 9 December 2015

Welcoming today's Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission report, the Victorian Greens say that much more needs to be done to rid Victoria Police of endemic sexism.

Quotes attributable to Ms Sue Pennicuik, the Greens' spokesperson for Police:

"We applaud the proactive decision last year by Victoria Police to invite the Human Rights Commission to inquire into sexual harassment and sex discrimination within Victoria Police."

"As Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has said, the report leaves no doubt that Victoria Police has deep problems in terms of the way women are treated and clearly so much more needs to be done."

Quotes attributable to Ms Nina Springle, the Greens' spokesperson for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence:

"Victoria Police is at the front line of our crisis response to situations of family violence and violence against women, and until the organisation addresses its internal problems Victorians can't have confidence that all VicPol officers will truly understand the urgency in these areas."

"Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton must be commended for taking this difficult but necessary step: I wonder how many other organisations out there would submit themselves for public scrutiny in terms of the way women are treated?"

Link to VEOHRC report: http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php/our-projects-a-initiatives/independent-review-victoria-police

For further comment: Sue Pennicuik: 0409 055 875 / Nina Springle: 0437 173 210