http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23357665-5006785,00.htmlVICTORIA'S police integrity officers need guns to defend themselves and have been unable to fully investigate corruption without weapons, the state government says.
Police Minister Bob Cameron today introduced new laws into parliament that will give officers working for the Office of Police Integrity (OPI) the ability to carry guns and capsicum spray when working on high-risk cases, often alone.
The change is among new laws that will separate the OPI from the Police Regulation Act, creating a stand-alone Police Integrity Act.
Mr Cameron said the OPI was "hampered'' in investigations because officers had no weapons.
"The OPI advise me that as a result of that there are some operations at the present time that they cannot undertake,'' Mr Cameron said.
"What we want to make sure (is) OPI operatives who need to defend themselves are able to defend themselves, and as a result of that they're able to do the full breadth of work, which at the moment they're not able to do.''
He said it was unacceptable for OPI officers to have just a "a notebook and biro,'' while police had guns.
But the Police Association says there is no evidence OPI officers need guns, and arming them could be risky.
"If they're operating covertly and our members are operating covertly, there is the potential for serious injury or death,'' the association's legal manager Senior Sergeant Greg Davies said.
Mr Cameron said there were only a small number of cases in which officers were expected to need weapons.
He said he had explained the new Police Integrity Act to Police Commissioner Christine Nixon, but he did not want to share the changes with the Police Association before today, in light of recent integrity hearings.
The Office of Public Prosecutions is currently deciding whether to lay criminal charges against Police Association secretary Paul Mullett and former assistant commissioner Noel Ashby arising from the recent OPI hearings.
Snr Sgt Davies said Mr Cameron's comments were "extraordinary''.
"Because one member of the Police Association was called to a public hearing, he (Mr Cameron) thought it wasn't prudent to discuss them with the Police Association, yet there were senior members of the police force in exactly the same boat and he thought it was okay to talk to the chief commissioner,'' Snr Sgt Davies said.
Also under the changes: taxpayers will foot the bill for the legal costs of OPI witnesses; the OPI's watchdog, the Special Investigations Monitor, will remain; and courts will still be able to call OPI documents in evidence.
Snr Sgt Davies said the bill did not go far enough to expose corruption.
"Corruption does not, has not and will never start and stop with a police force,'' he said.
"This doesn't address the issues beyond the police force, it doesn't address the public sector, it doesn't address members of parliament.''
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu agreed.
"(Premier) John Brumby does not get it. Victoria needs an independent, broad-based anti-corruption commission,'' he said.
Mr Brumby has consistently rejected the push for such a commission, saying the OPI and ombudsman's powers are sufficient.
Mr Baillieu said he did not oppose the arming of OPI officers.
The legislation was introduced today and is expected to be debated by parliament in April.
Mr Cameron said he would make a recommendation to cabinet in coming weeks on who the new director of the OPI should be, when Ombudsman George Brouwer gives up the OPI role.
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