Editor’s view: Public can’t trust in SA Police while secrecy rules

Editor’s view: To have faith in our democracy, we must have faith in our key institutions. But the current system of handling police complaints is shrouded in secrecy.

• Union cop defiant amid bombshell claims

For South Australians to have faith in the health of our democracy, they must be able to have faith in our key institutions.

That, crucially, includes our police force.

Yet no South Australian can trust the current system of handling police complaints, which is shrouded in secrecy.

Premier Peter Malinauskas and Police Minister Dan Cregan must legislate a fix immediately.

It is chilling that under current law, only the police commissioner can publicly reveal the details of complaints against officers.

Unless, as in the case of Police Association presidential candidate Wade Burns this week, an MP airs claims against them under the cover of parliamentary privilege.

Mr Burns labelled the allegations “factually incorrect” and said he believed they were part of an effort to undermine his campaign. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Independent MP Frank Pangallo dropped the claims under parliamentary privilege. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Emma Brasier

Mr Burns says what was claimed in parliament by Independent MP Frank Pangallo was “factually incorrect”.

How on earth is the public supposed to have any confidence that the case has been dealt with appropriately when, despite it supposedly being the “worst-kept secret” within the force, it can only now legally come to light and be reported in the midst of a union election campaign – and only through the extreme measure of parliamentary privilege?

And how many other cases of serious complaints against officers have been shielded from the public eye completely?

There’s no way of knowing as such matters are dealt with internally and behind closed doors.

It is a recipe for corruption.

Mr Pangallo posed a series of questions to Mr Cregan, including why Mr Burns was not charged for his alleged conduct, why he was not sacked from SA Police, and why the matter was not referred to the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said a detailed briefing would be provided to the Police Minister. But why has that not already been done?

The Police Complaints and Discipline Act must be overhauled immediately to implement a transparent system of complaints handling in which the public can have confidence.

But that is not enough.

The government must initiate a broader review into how police have handled other internal complaints – not just the Burns case.

Not until we can trust in the way the force is policed can we fully trust the way it polices us.