| Description |
1 videodisc (DVD) (45 min.) : sd., col. ; 4 3/4 in |
| Series |
Four corners (Television program)
|
| Summary |
"It's blokey and it's bolshie, the envy of other unions, with near blanket coverage of its workforce. For decades it has sought to influence election campaigns, dragged concessions out of fearful governments and fought ferociously for its members. In an industrial landscape where many unions are diminished in numbers and influence, the Police Association of Victoria keeps on growing its membership, shirtfronting critics and crunching deals. But as Four Corners reports, the union now faces increased scrutiny about how it wields its power, not only against outsiders on behalf of its members, but also against its critics from within. The union stands accused of blocking efforts to tackle police corruption. It is alleged to have systematically bullied executives and staff and to have nurtured a culture of secrecy and lack of accountability. For the first time, key insiders including serving senior police officers, go public about the politics and culture of the Police Association of Victoria. The insiders detail a campaign of bullying that included a series of highly personal and anonymous emails sent to thousands of police, which eventually led the targeted officer to quit the union. "Something akin to a terrorist campaign waged against me," says the officer. A whistleblower who observed the campaign tells Four Corners: "I?ve dealt with a lot of crooks, bad crooks ? and most of them have more morals than the cowards that sent out these malicious defamatory emails." Four Corners reports on the union?s 14 million dollar fund to defend police accused of criminal or disciplinary offences, and asks if it is open to accusations of bias. Reporter Liz Jackson looks at the animosity between the Police Association and the anti-corruption watchdog, the Office of Police Integrity, revealing stark new evidence of a breakdown in trust between anti-corruption investigators and the union. A top corruption fighter warns: "When they (the union) attack every anti-corruption effort and every effort by the police to maintain ethical standards, when all those efforts are attacked in a public way, that really is an obstacle to progress." "The Culture", is a study of the exercise of power and the tension between entrenched police culture and pressure for reform."--website |
| Notes |
Off-air recording of ABC-TV broadcast February 14, 2006. Copied under Part VA of the Copyright Act |
| Credits |
Producer: Sarah Curnow |
| Performer |
Reporter: Liz Jackson |
| Notes |
DVD |
|
No rating given |
|
Available for Deakin University staff and students only |
| Subject |
Police Association (Victoria)
|
|
Police -- Victoria
|
|
Police corruption -- Victoria
|
| Author |
Jackson, Liz
|
|
Curnow, Sarah
|
|
ABC-TV (Australia)
|
|
