SA Police launch internal inquiry after an intimate image of a female detainee was leaked
A major inquiry has been launched after an intimate image of a female detainee was uploaded to a sensitive SA Police mugshot catalogue. WARNING: GRAPHIC CONTENT
Police & Courts
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A major inquiry has been launched after an intimate image of a female detainee exposing herself while under arrest at an Adelaide station was uploaded to a sensitive SA Police mugshot catalogue.
In a worrying breach that has exposed force security failures, the suspect was photographed in a state of undress while in custody at the Christies Beach Police Station just before Christmas.
A leaked image shows the middle-aged woman, who is not being named to protect her dignity, lifting her yellow top and exposing her breasts – touching one – as she scowled for the police camera.
Furious senior police have ordered an internal inquiry after questions from The Advertiser while the December 22 image was deleted from the force database five days later.
Internal Investigation Branch detectives are examining the circumstances around the picture, how it was taken, why it was uploaded and if it was subsequently accessed or distributed.
While draconian state laws ban the public disclosure of all internal inquiries, acting Police Commissioner Linda Williams has granted rare permission for details to be published.
It is unclear whether the woman, who lives near the police station in Adelaide’s south, deliberately exposed herself, before the picture was taken, or if some other circumstances were involved.
But police sources said it was nonetheless a horrifying incident that exposed unacceptable breaches of strict force protocols.
The police code of conduct requires officers to “conduct themselves in a professional manner”.
It is understood authorities have since visited the station, one of Adelaide’s major precincts that is home to Southern District workers and CIB detectives, in recent days.
It is understood inquiries centre on Police Security Officers.
Police security officers help with SA’s counter terrorism strategies and community safety, the police website states.
They primarily maintain security of government facilities, public officials and the community with electronic surveillance, mobile patrols and custody duties.
The image, which appears to have been taken near a kitchen and storage area next to a police height chart, was circulated among officers.
Detectives have been unable to contact the detainee but inquiries are “continuing”.
Court records show she is facing dozens of theft-related charges. The woman, who is aged in her 50s, is due back in court later this month.
She was unavailable for comment.
In a statement issued on behalf of Ms Williams, a police spokesman said the internal investigation was ongoing while “action as appropriate will be taken at its conclusion”.
He said officers, including PSO’s, are legally authorised to take photographs of anyone in custody “for the purpose of identification”.
“(SA Police) has strict requirements relating to the taking of custody photographs,” he said.
“(This includes) which parts of the body are photographed, the conditions in which those photographs are taken, and the subsequent use, storage and security of those photographs.
“The taking of the relevant image is currently the subject of an investigation by (SA Police’s) Internal Investigation Section.
“On 27 December 2023, after becoming aware of the existence of the image on the (police) database, Southern District management took action to have the image immediately taken down.”
He said hiring of additional sworn PSO’s, with expanded duties, gives the force “greater flexibility to respond appropriately to community needs” and based on interstate practices.
The deployment of PSO’s into custodial facilities across the metropolitan area started in May last year and has allowed police officers back into frontline roles.
They receive the same custody management training as police officers and Sergeants and Brevet Sergeants operationally supervise their work.
Under laws created in 2016, all police complaints are subject to blanket secrecy, meaning all details or reference to internal inquiries are banned from publication.
The police chief, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Ann Vanstone or the Office for Public Integrity can only grant permission.
The Advertiser has highlighted several “troubling” cases of police secrecy in recent months.
SA Police last year started publishing details publicly online of disciplinary proceedings against officers, and other workers, after criticism of its misconduct secrecy.
A bipartisan state parliamentary committee in November urged authorities to overhaul SA’s police complaints legislation to improve transparency.
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens, who is currently on personal leave after the death of youngest son Charlie, 18, has argued rules are balanced and appropriate.
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