Parliamentary inquiry hears concerning reports over police mental health support services
A parliamentary committee has heard claims of police mental health support services being inappropriately accessed will not be investigated. Find out why.
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Claims of senior police inappropriately accessing officers’ confidential mental health files will not be investigated due to lack of specific evidence, a parliamentary committee has heard.
The Select Committee on Support and Mental Health Services has received closing statements from Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and the state’s Police Association president Wade Burns.
A major concern raised in a number of submissions, including from Mr Burns, his predecessor Mark Carroll, as well as from officers, was a mistrust towards the organisation’s Employee Assistance Section, which delivers mental health and wellbeing support.
Committee chairwoman Laura Henderson asked Mr Stevens if he was aware of an incident where senior police demanded access to medical records from the employee assistance section – before allegedly obtaining documents.
Mr Stevens responded by stating he was “not aware of a scenario of that type”.
“It has never been brought to my attention that senior officers have used their rank to access files they are not entitled to access,” he said.
However, Mr Stevens said he would not investigate unless specific information was provided.
“If we were provided specifics that enabled us to inquire into the circumstances we would, by all means, follow up on that,” Mr Stevens said.
“But in the absence of that – I wouldn’t be investing resources at this time.”
Mr Stevens insisted the employee assistance section “adheres to strict confidentiality clauses” and they “do not release information unless the employee provides an authority or there is a legal requirement to release the information”.
Police officers also have access to an external service, called the Employee Assistance Program, which is delivered by Corporate Health Group.
Another major criticism raised by Mr Burns was the inadequate funding and staffing given to the Employee Assistance Section.
“Anecdotally we understand that the staffing at the employee assistance section has been reasonably stagnant since the year 2000, with 11 full-time permanently funded positions,” Mr Burns said.
“Our view certainly is that if it is the case that there has been very, very minimal, if
any, increase to permanent funded positions – that is something that needs attention.”
It is understood there are currently about 4500 officers.
Mr Burns said funding towards the employee assistance section was especially important in the current climate where officers were exposed to an increasing number of traumatic, complex incidents.
The committee will report in April.
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