Inspector Philip Strickland SC clears Independent Commissioner Against Corruption over investigation into Doug Barr

An in-depth review into the state anti-corruption watchdog’s investigation into a senior police officer that was blamed for his suicide has been released.

An investigation that was blamed for the suicide of a senior police officer and triggered the significant weakening of the state anti-corruption watchdog’s powers has been cleared of any wrongdoing.

Inspector Philip Strickland SC’s review of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption’s investigation into Chief Superintendent Doug Barr found the watchdog acted appropriately in probing allegations against the senior officer.

Superintendent Barr took his own life in October 2019 while under scrutiny over his involvement in a recruitment drive called Recruit 313.

The investigation was centred around allegations that cadet applications of relatives of senior police, including Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, were altered by recruiters to ensure applicants passed.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Stevens.

Inspector Philip Strickland SC has cleared the state’s anti-corruption watchdog of any wrongdoing over its investigation into Chief Superintendent Doug Barr. Picture: Julianne Osborne

Chief Superintendent Doug Barr, pictured in 2008, took his own life while under investigation by ICAC.

An ICAC report into Recruit 313, released after Superintendent Barr’s death, made no findings against him.

Superintendent Barr’s wife Debbie told a parliamentary committee in 2021 that another police officer changed spelling results for one applicant so they would pass an entry test.

Ms Barr blamed delays and a lack of communication during the ICAC investigation into her husband for his death.

Ms Barr declined to comment on Thursday.

The handling of the anti-corruption inquiry was a key catalyst for parliament rushing through major changes to ICAC laws in 2021.

ICAC Commissioner Ann Vanstone KC at the time warned that corruption would go undetected under the law changes.

Mr Strickland said the decision to investigate Superintendent Barr, who led Recruit 313, was appropriate.

Debbie Barr blamed delays and a lack of communication during the ICAC investigation into her husband for his death. Picture: Naomi Jellicoe

“I have found that ICAC and the OPI (Office for Public Integrity) did carry out their functions in a manner that was likely to assist in preventing or minimising corruption in public administration,” Mr Strickland wrote in his report tabled in state parliament this week.

“There was no unreasonable delay in the first corruption investigation.

“There was a protracted but not unreasonable delay in the second misconduct and maladministration investigation.”

Mr Strickland did state that the-then ICAC Commissioner Bruce Lander KC should have advised Superintendent Barr of a delay of submissions to the investigation.

He said there was no evidence of corruption, misconduct, maladministration or unreasonable invasions of privacy by ICAC.

Independent MLC Frank Pangallo, who led the parliamentary inquiry into ICAC, described the report as a “snow job”.

“No one questioned ICAC’s right to investigate the recruitment program led by Doug Barr,” he said.

“The family says the delay (in the investigation) caused Doug to take his life.”

Mr Stevens on Wednesday said any allegations of “conflict of interest and nepotism involving public sector employees are serious and deserve thorough investigation and scrutiny”.

Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said SA Police had adopted four ICAC recommendations. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

“Maintaining public trust and confidence in police is paramount,” he said.

“The fact that allegations of this nature against officers involved in the Recruit 313 initiative were the subject of two protracted investigations by the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption (ICAC) should reassure the public that such conduct will not be tolerated and, if detected, will be acted upon.

“The allegations of conflict of interest and nepotism involving a Senior Police Officer demanded scrutiny and it was wholly appropriate they were subject to independent investigation.”

Mr Stevens said several SA Police officers had faced internal disciplinary action following the two ICAC investigations.

He said SA Police had adopted four ICAC recommendations to improve and tighten procedures and policies around conflicts of interest and its Code of Conduct.