The Authority has overseen a Police investigation into allegations that a recruit assaulted and threatened family members, some of whom were children. It was alleged that these events occurred over a two-year period prior to the recruit joining Police.
Following a criminal investigation, Police laid charges against the recruit, including counts of assaults on children, and threatening to kill.
Police subsequently sought to withdraw these charges because of perceived evidential impediments. The presiding District Court Judge refused to deal with the matter by way of withdrawal of the charges. Instead, Police having indicated that they would offer no evidence, the charges were dismissed pursuant to section 147 of the Criminal Procedures Act 2011.
Police initially resolved to proceed with disciplinary proceedings against the recruit. However, subsequently, Police reversed that decision, concluding, based on the material gathered to that point, that there was no proper basis to continue with disciplinary proceedings and instead moved to what Police refer to as an expectation setting conversation with the recruit.
The Authority has informed Police that in its view the disciplinary process should not have been ended prematurely as the practical result was that the allegations against the recruit were never explored in an appropriate forum.
IPCA: 23-19579