Police evidence storage
Mr QUILTY (Northern Victoria) (12:44): My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Police. A 2018 audit of police evidence storage found that police had a weak control environment and devolved governance arrangements for their seized and stored items. This is probably why ex-cop Dave Branov was able to maintain a drug habit by taking confiscated drugs and trading them with dealers for his preferred high. Branov has given an interview to the Herald Sun explaining that he is an isolated example but part of a broader culture of police corruption. He explained that evidence is routinely taken by police and used to generate funds. Officers replaced cocaine with crushed up Panadol and crystal meth with crystal cat litter. The Auditor-General remarked that the sheer volume of seized items in police possession and its subsequent management impact security arrangements. Branov explained that officers interested in firearms have been known to take weapons from police storage, contributing to the more than 100 000 firearms that Victoria Police have lost track of. Minister, what is being done to address VicPol’s appalling property storage management?
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:45): I thank the member for his question. That question will be referred to the Minister for Police, and I am sure that she will respond as per the standing orders.
Mr QUILTY (Northern Victoria) (12:45): Thank you, Minister. The most recent VicPol annual report notes that the property and laboratory management system, PALM, is unable to identify items by seizure type. This means that police have no idea when they have seized firearms or where they are. We have heard cases of firearm charges being laid for not surrendering firearms when those firearms are already in police storage. Police have taken firearms and handed back different firearms or handed firearms back with alterations, and not small alterations either. We have heard of one seized firearm returned with a different calibre to when it was surrendered. Now we have former officers directly telling us that there is a culture of corruption within the police and that part of the corruption includes stealing and using seized equipment and firearms. We know that VicPol is unable to account for more than 100 000 firearms that should be tracked by its licensing and registration system database. It has been suggested that there are errors in up to 80 per cent of all Victorian firearm records on the system. Minister, what is being done to ensure VicPol have accurate records of all firearms—those in their possession and those in the hands of law-abiding firearm owners?
Ms TIERNEY (Western Victoria—Minister for Training and Skills, Minister for Higher Education) (12:46): I thank the member for the question—the question at the end of a series of very, very serious allegations that have been made in this house this afternoon. However, I will refer his question to the Minister for Police, and I am sure that she will respond.