Damning report finds sexual harassment rife among SA Police
SEXIST jokes, unwanted advances and alleged rape are among a raft of incidents uncovered in a review of SA Police that reveals accepted sexism and predatory behaviour. READ THE SHOCKING ACCOUNTS
Are you an SA Police officer who has experienced sexual harassment? You can anonymously share your story with our reporter Lauren Novak — call 8206 2300 or email lauren.novak@news.com.au
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SEXIST jokes, leering, unwanted advances and alleged rape are among a raft of incidents revealed in a review of SA Police that reveals a “boys’ club” culture of accepted sexism and predatory behaviour.
SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens on Monday conceded he was “ashamed” by the findings of the seven-month independent review but promised to lift standards and make police work more accessible to women.
Almost 2000 SA Police officers and staff — representing a third of the total force — completed an online survey by the Equal Opportunity Commission, which found:
36 PER CENT had been sexually harassed — but only 12 per cent lodged a complaint.
ALMOST half of those people reported that it was by a person senior to them.
45 PER CENT had been discriminated against based on their gender.
THE level of “predatory behaviour” — the abuse of authority to exploit others for sexual or other personal gratification — was reported at a far higher rate in SAPOL than in the general population (49 per cent compared to 28 per cent).
The 1954 survey responses represent 34 per cent of SA Police’s total workforce of 5671 employees.
Concerns reported survey respondents ranged from lewd jokes, suggestive comments and unsolicited touching to allegations of sexual assault and rape.
Many women said they had been referred to as “bitches” or “troublemakers”, and felt that enduring sexualised behaviour and comments was “part of the job”.
Mr Stevens commissioned the review in April. It was conducted by Equal Opportunity Commissioner Niki Vincent, who described incidents highlighted in the review as “very disturbing”.
“At the most serious end, around 1 per cent — or 20 people — indicated they had experienced sexual assault,” Dr Vincent said. She also noted there was “chronic under-reporting” of sexual harassment or discrimination concerns and a perceived “lack of significant consequences” for perpetrators.
“A report like this can have a big impact … for people to understand that it is not OK. That people don’t have to put up with this just to fit in,” Dr Vincent said.
Mr Stevens conceded he was “ashamed and disappointed that there are people within our organisation who have been victimised and have suffered”.
“I unreservedly apologise to those people,” he said.
The commissioner said no one had been disciplined or sacked as a result of the report because the survey responses were confidential.
However, future reports could result in disciplinary action, he said.
Mr Stevens has promised to publicly report data and anonymous outcomes of cases stemming from the review in a bid to improve transparency.
The report makes 38 recommendations for change, including establishing a taskforce to investigate criminal allegations.
Mr Stevens said he accepted all the recommendations.
He has specifically committed to setting up programs through which staff can make complaints and seek advice, and those who have been previously harmed “can safely tell their story to trained senior SAPOL staff” and request an apology.
Other recommendations include:
SETTING up a new complaints resolution unit.
REVIEWING penalties for perpetrators, including introducing a “resigned under investigation” category.
TRIALLING “blind recruitment” to remove bias.
SETTING key performance indicators to improve gender equality.
ENCOURAGING more staff, particularly men, to take up flexible work.
PROVIDING more suitable equipment and clothing for female officers, including uniforms for pregnant women.
Mr Stevens said women now made up 45 per cent of people applying to be police officers.
He has set a target of 50/50 recruitment.
Last week, Mr Stevens revealed a major restructure of SA Police, which will replace the existing six Local Service Areas with four metropolitan zones — northern, eastern, southern and western.
Police Association president Mark Carroll said many members — men and women — had raised problems with the complaints procedures within SA Police, adding: “This review will provide an opportunity for an improved procedure that will give members greater confidence”.
Police Minister Peter Malinauskas said he was “extremely disappointed” by the findings of the Equal Opportunity Commission report.
“In the pursuit of SA having one of the most modern police forces, behaviour of this nature must be uncovered and removed,” Mr Malinauskas said.
Opposition police spokesman Dan van Holst Pellekaan said police “must adhere to highest standards whether dealing with the public or their own colleagues”.
COMMENTS FROM SA POLICE EMPLOYEES
“I have met so many men in the job whose behaviours have been bad towards women, and the bosses were often involved in perpetuating this behaviour. There were no women in senior positions to speak to.”
“SAPOL is still a ‘boys’ club’ and many of the behaviours ... are learnt from other, mostly senior men. Women are still belittled and treated as ‘second class’.”
“There appears to be an expectation that as a female officer, you tolerate the harassment with clenched teeth and a smile and that, in fact, you should be flattered as it means you’ve been accepted and are part of the team.”
“I was hit on by many married men. From (my) first day, my boss made a comment full of sexual innuendo. I asked him one time at work ‘are you staring at my breasts?’ and he said ‘yes, I find it comforting’.”
“After one night shift, the team I was in thought it would be good to have pizza and a beer and watch porn on the big screen in the conference room. I was the only woman in the team. I felt like I’d be ostracised if I didn’t stay. I felt awful.”
“I feel a constant need to not be offended. I use words like c*** and d*** regularly to show that I don’t care and will not put in complaint.”
“To be part of the team, I needed to be more than my male counterparts — more dedicated, more hardworking, prove myself more, take less leave.”
“Women who do stand up against the lower-level sexual harassment behaviours, in particular, can be labelled as prudish or complainers. It’s a tightrope that women have to walk.”
“I have been (managing critical incidents) and had male colleagues arrive and say to me ‘grab us a coffee would you, darling?’.”
“It was common for male officers to rate a victim, or witnesses, for their attractiveness. They would also rate new policewomen coming into the team. This would happen in front of me and other women.”
“If a victim attended the police station and detailed to me the incidents I have just described, I would be strongly encouraging that person to pursue criminal charges.”
“I have been told by a male supervisor ... ‘I have a penis, you’re a woman, you ... will always be a sexual object to me’.”
“A new senior member started on our team. He would tell me things like ‘I want to impregnate you’. I started getting more and more text messages including comments about his penis.”
“There was an occasion where men on my team called me at home while they were away on a work trip to ask me about my breast size, which they had been speculating about together.”
“After a work barbecue at which we had all been drinking, a teammate ... had sex with me. I didn’t want to, but I was so affected by alcohol I couldn’t stop him. I have never consumed alcohol around any workmates from then onwards.”
“I have experienced being picked up by the back of my vest and paraded around by males seeking to prove how strong they are.”
“I am in a same-sex relationship. I have had a male colleague ask me (for a) threesome with him.”
Source: The Equal Opportunity Commission review into sexual harassment and discrimination in SA Police