Operation Prospect: NSW Police’s Magnum Force — just like Dirty Harry

BACK in the 1990s, the NSW Police Force established a task force to catch hardened criminals. It was run by even tougher cops and called Task Force Magnum, after Dirty Harry’s weapon of choice.

Dirty Harry.

• Police bugging report released by ombudsman
• CATH BURN’S FULL STATEMENT

BACK in the 1990s, the NSW Police Force established a task force to catch hardened criminals. It was run by even tougher cops and called Task Force Magnum, after Dirty Harry’s favourite style of handgun.

Among their targets was a notorious crook arrested in 1994 over an armed robbery at a Coffs Harbour club.

A few years later, a self-confessed corrupt cop told internal affairs the crook had been verballed by the police who had arrested him.

Actor Clint Eastwood in the 1971 hit Dirty Harry. Picture: Movie Network.

At the time, Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn was moving her way up through the ranks as a detective chief inspector in Internal Affairs.

Bugging report shows NSW Police in crisis over ‘unlawful conduct’

Ms Burn’s conduct during another bugging operation was yesterday dubbed “unlawful” and “unreasonable” by NSW Ombudsman John McMillan.

Based on the testimony of the corrupt cop, codenamed Sea, she became involved in another task force, Task Force Mascot, which was established in 1999 to investigate corruption in police ranks.

Clint Eastwood wields his trademark .44 Magnum Smith & Wesson Model 29 as Inspector Harry “Dirty” Callahan. The model of firearm influenced the name of a NSW Police Force operation.

Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn. Picture: John Feder / The Australian.

Investigators fitted the crook, codenamed Paddle, with a listening device and sent him into a Kempsey pawn shop run by Officer A, a former member of Task Force Magnum who had retired from the force, according to the Ombudsman’s report released yesterday.

Because Paddle was on bail on the robbery charge, one of the conditions was that he not approach anyone involved in the case, including Officer A.

Officer A alerted the local Coffs Harbour police about the issue.

READ THE FULL REPORT INTO OPERATION PROSPECT

In December 1999, Paddle admitted his role in the armed robbery of the club, contradicting what he had already told investigators about being set up.

Officer A made no admissions.

Go ahead punk, make my day.

Warren’s view.

Acting Ombudsman John McMillan found that not only was Paddle told to breach his bail conditions, he was moved around the state in safe houses from Macksville to Bundeena as Coffs Harbour police were looking for him for a breach of bail.

Acting Ombudsman Professor John McMillan announces the findings of his investigation into NSW police bugging. Picture: Carly Earl

Mr McMillan said Mascot’s operational plan was flawed and, as the team leader, Ms Burn’s conduct was “unlawful” under the Police Act 1990.

Ms Burn said in a statement yesterday: “The finding that my conduct was unlawful in no way suggests I was guilty of a criminal offence.”

Ms Burns yesterday defended her actions.