Cop boss Webb quizzed over alcohol, costs of staff exodus

Allegations that Police Commissioner Karen Webb used taxpayer funds to buy alcohol will be investigated by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

Allegations that Police Commissioner Karen Webb used taxpayer funds to buy alcohol will be investigated by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.

Police Minister Yasmin Catley defended Commissioner Webb during question time on Wednesday, saying the expenses on bottles of gin had been a precedent set by previous police commissioners as gifts to visiting dignitaries.

“The police commissioner was made aware by the previous police commissioner of a precedent of ordering bottles of wine as courtesy gifts for visiting commissioners, for other dignitaries from other jurisdictions overseas and have also been used at charity events,” she said.

“The commissioner ordered bottles of alcohol from the same supplier as the former commissioner did.

“All of us have given wine as a gift - it really does seem like quite an ordinary gift to me.

“I am advised that the professional standards command have referred these questions and allegations to the law enforcement conduct mission.”

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb during a press conference at the Sydney Police Centre. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Ms Webb has defended her purchase of alcohol after questions were tabled in parliament - saying it was tradition, and had been done by previous commissioners.

Ms Webb on Wednesday clarified that she had purchased bottles of gin to be given as gifts to dignitaries, in place of Shiraz, which the previous commissioner Mick Fuller had done.

On 2GB, Ben Fordham read out a series of texts he had received from Ms Webb, saying she had ordered bottles of gin to give to “visiting commissioners and dignitaries” as part of an “established precedent”.

“After becoming Commissioner I was informed by the previous commissioner of his practice of providing bottles of the commissioner’s signature Shiraz wine as courtesy gifts for visiting commissioners and dignitaries from other jurisdictions,” her text to Fordham read.

“I continued this tradition and ordered from the same supplier as Commissioner Fuller, some have been gifted to such visitors and others on special occasions, such as being donated to police legacy as an auction item, supporting families of deceased police.

“This is an established precedent.

“In keeping with tradition, gin replaced wine, not in addition to wine… Fuller bought wine, same supplier.”

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley defended Commissioner Webb during question time on Wednesday.

It comes as questions in parliament raised concerns about an alarming number of police officers leaving the force under Ms Webb’s tenure.

Former policeman-turned-independent MP Rod Roberts questioned the purchase and distribution of alcohol by Commissioner Webb as part of a series of questions on notice for the police force, tabled in parliament on Tuesday.

He also requested the outcome of last year’s People Matter Employee Survey in the police, as well as information regarding the promotion of a number of officers since Commissioner Webb came to power.

On 2GB Breakfast with Ben Fordham on Tuesday morning, Mr Roberts claimed there were issues in the force with “nepotism and cronyism at the highest level in the police executive office”.

Amid Mr Roberts’ claims, The Daily Telegraph can reveal Ms Webb has fired 14 NSW Police senior executives “without reason or notice” since taking over.

Former Detective Sergeant Rod Roberts MLC. Picture: Facebook

Documents obtained under freedom of information laws reveal that Ms Webb started swinging the axe even before she was officially sworn in, with one sacking occurring while she was the “Commissioner of Police – designate”.

The 14 senior executives fired under Ms Webb’s watch could have cost the taxpayer more than $4 million in compensation payments.

The executives would have included top civilian staff (like former chief spinner Liz Deegan), assistant commissioners, and deputy commissioners.

Senior executives who are fired for no reason are eligible for up to 38 weeks’ pay.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the staff who were let go.

The top brass fired under Webb’s watch refer to themselves as the “38 club,” in reference to their generous payouts.

Those in the exclusive club include former Deputy Commissioner Mick Willing, Former Commissioner Mick Fuller’s right-hand-man Grant “Grunter” Williams, and a number of public affairs branch executives.

MASS EXODUS OF COPS

It comes as new figures released to parliament show NSW Police is haemorrhaging experienced officers two times faster than they are being replaced. Last financial year, just 665 graduates attested from the Goulburn Police Academy, while 1,485 sworn officers left the Force.

Of the officers leaving the force, 769 were medically discharged, while 344 resigned.

A year earlier, 1381 sworn officers left the force, and only 774 officers attested.

When Ms Webb’s first took over as commissioner, attestations were only five per cent short of separations, with 1,223 officers attesting compared with 1,286 leaving.

Public Service Association NSW Secretary Stewart Little estimated each pay out would have been “in the order of $300,000 to $400,000”.

“All up, it could have cost in excess of $4 million,” he said.

Mr Little has been calling for termination payments to senior executives to be slashed.

“You should not be employing anybody on a golden parachute that hands out 38 weeks pay to senior executives,” he said.

The Daily Telegraph has contacted NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb for comment.

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Originally published as Cop boss Webb quizzed over alcohol, costs of staff exodus