Damning audit finds $8.4m in police ballistic vests unaccounted for

NSW Police are still scrambling to work out how many ballistic vests have gone missing following repeated audits, and if they’re in the hands of criminals as the number stretches to thousands.

NSW Police lost track of 5577 ballistic vests worth an astonishing $8.4 million, according to an explosive internal audit from in July 2022, with top cops unable to guarantee that the vests – which are prohibited weapons – are not in the hands of the public.

The audit, released to parliament despite attempts from NSW Police to keep it secret, uncovered a “significant lack of governance and consistency” over how ballistic vests had been accounted for in police commands.

“The reconciliation audit has identified a total body armour deficit of 5577 vests,” a police briefing signed by Ms Webb’s chief of staff on August 1 2022 said.

That amounted to “an estimated figure exceeding $8.365 million in asset value remains unaccounted for.”

It found that the ballistic vests had “historically been treated as a uniform item, as opposed to a prohibited weapon”.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb. Picture: NewsWire

The audit which found that almost 5600 ballistic vests were unaccounted for was launched after earlier attempts by NSW Police to track down vests. There was a number of inconsistencies with the initial probe, according to the documents.

The trove of documents also reveals that the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) asked Commissioner Karen Webb in June 2022 to explain why more than “1000” ballistic vests had gone missing.

Following that letter, another audit was launched, to address “apparent data inconsistencies”.

The second audit identified a “significant and concerning deficit in the number of vests that remain unaccounted for”.

Deputy Commissioner David Hudson told budget estimates in August that the number of missing vests was “embarrassing”.

Probed in budget estimates about the missing ballistic vests, Deputy Commissioner David Hudson labelled the debacle “embarrassing”.

In subsequent answers provided to parliament, NSW Police could give no guarantee that all unaccounted for vests had been destroyed.

“Nor can (NSW Police) guarantee that none of the unaccounted for vests are in the hands of the public”.

Independent MP Rod Roberts is calling for answers over the missing ballistic vests. Pictures: Nikki Short, Thomas Lisson

Independent MP Rod Roberts, who has been pursuing Ms Webb over the missing vests, said NSW Police has “failed miserably” in accounting for the ballistic vests.

“These are prohibited weapons … Anybody that lawfully possesses these types of items need to keep them under a strict lock and key regime,” he said.

According to those answers, NSW Police told the LECC that, as of 28 February 2023, there were 2258 vests unaccounted for.

“Documents that have been provided to the parliament show that LECC have been informed of a number completely different from what the original audit showed,” Mr Roberts said.

Ms Webb’s office refused to account for the differing figures on Wednesday. A spokeswoman said the Commissioner would provide no further comment until a new audit has been completed.