Victoria Police probe officer’s response to neo-Nazi salute at Spring St March rally
Victoria Police has launched an investigation into a cop’s use of social media following complaints he “boasted” about his son’s attendance at a neo-Nazi rally in Melbourne.
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Victoria Police has launched a formal investigation into social media posts by an officer “boasting” about his son’s attendance at a neo-Nazi rally at Parliament House.
Police also came under fire for failing to stop the neo-Nazi protesters from marching and saluting on Spring St when they gatecrashed a Let Women Speak rally in March.
Leading criminal barrister Remy van de Wiel, KC, subsequently wrote to chief commissioner Shane Patton on behalf of a client, putting him on notice of legal action over the vile ‘heil Hitler’ salutes.
He claimed police’s failure to halt the hate act amounted to a breach of a legal agreement signed off by former police chief Christine Nixon in 2008.
He subsequently raised concerns in a follow up letter that one of the neo-Nazis was the son of a Victoria Police officer who boasted he was proud of his son in a social media post.
Mr van de Wiel’s client also claimed that raw footage of the protest laid bare the “painful reality that Victoria Police officers were not mere spectators; rather encouraged, authorised and/or assisted the neo-Nazis.”
Victoria Police have confirmed they have initiated a formal investigation into inappropriate use of social media, but ruled out a probe into the conduct of officers for failing to stop the rally.
“Victoria Police aims to provide responses to complaints within three months,” a spokesman said.
But the complainant told the Herald Sun they understood the investigation was all encompassing, and would definitely include police’s failure to stop the neo-Nazi activity.
They said they were “taken by complete surprise” to learn police had ruled out investigating the alleged failure.”
In 2008 Victoria Police entered into a deed of release as part of a confidential settlement reached with a victim of crime.
It included an agreement that police would be ordered to report all racially or religiously motivated incidents and determine any offences that may have been committed.
The edict was enshrined in a Chief Commissioner’s Instruction to officers that was issued in 2008.
It undertook to uphold provisions in the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act and Equal Opportunity Act to protect all Victorians from unlawful conduct.
The order expired after 12 months but was updated with a new order and formed part of a new Victoria Police Manual.
The victim subject to the Deed of Release told the Herald Sun: “it is regrettable that Victoria Police seemed to have forgotten that they legally undertook to ensure such vile conduct is promptly and appropriately addressed.”
The victim is considering launching legal action against police.
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Originally published as Victoria Police probe officer’s response to neo-Nazi salute at Spring St March rally
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