Those following the Badge of Betrayal Podcast will have heard allegations by TASPOL whistleblower ‘Tom” stating that secret investigations are being conducted to avert reputational risks. This is said to be a long-standing practice in TASPOL spanning many decades.

Readers should note that “Off-Book” investigations by TASPOL remain allegations until substantiated by bodies such as the Tasmanian Integrity Commission!

These so-called “Off-Book” investigations, instigated by the TASPOL Executive, are said to suspend the established protocols for the handling of complaints of professional misconduct against Police Officers. The “Off-Book” investigation ensures that no official records are kept, and the matters can be resolved in secret. Presumably there would also be no official records of the outcomes of an “Off-Book” investigation.

Whistleblower “Tom” says that now disgraced Paedophile Officer Paul (Beau) Reynolds had been the subject of “Off-Book” investigations and as such this will be a matter of interest to the current TASPOL Parliamentary Inquiry.

If the existence of “Off-Book” investigations is ultimately substantiated, then the Tasmanian Police Commissioner needs to be given opportunity to publicly defend the practice and point out the legislation that the TASPOL executive relies on when subverting the official complaints-handling protocols.

Should these secret “Off-Book” investigations be substantiated it will place TASPOL alongside other Tasmanian Government Agencies such as Health and Education wth a track record of cover-ups, as revealed by the Commission of Inquiry into Institutional responses to Child Sexual Abuse. Apparently TASPOL faces the very same cultural challenges that these other Agencies are slowly remediating.

The Tasmanian Integrity Commission will no doubt be aware that this whistleblower alleges “Off-Book” investigations. The Independent Regulator will similarly be interested to know where “Off-Book” investigations include complaints of child sexual abuse.

While the motivations for conducting “Off-Book” investigations are unclear the risk of perverting the course of justice is real. The Tasmanian Police Commissioner and the Police Minister need to be providing reassurances to the Public and the Parliament.

Importantly TASPOL needs to be able to demonstrate that it operates ‘without fear or favour’ and that all are equal before the law. Secret investigations of Police Officers cannot be a practice extended to influential public citizens accused of crimes!