Australian Federal Police officers complain about sexual harassment, bullying

AN Australian Federal Police officer has been sacked and dozens of others accused of sexual harassment and bullying in the wake of a bombshell review of the force’s “boys’ club” culture.

AN Australian Federal Police officer has been sacked and dozens of others accused of sexual harassment and bullying in the wake of a bombshell review of the force’s “boys’ club” culture.

The Herald Sun can reveal the AFP’s professional standards unit has been asked to probe 29 sexual assault incidents involving officers and staff in the last year, as well as 23 assault cases.

A string of harassment and bullying complaints have also been made to the AFP’s new “Safe Place” team, set up last August after the release of a report by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick which exposed the force’s cultural problems.

The AFP’s annual report, released last week, showed 24 AFP officers sought help from the Safe Place unit because of sexual harassment, while 156 came forward over other incidents of bullying and harassment.

AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin and former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick.

The AFP said 21 referrals to the new team had been formally investigated — with probes into 13 incidents still continuing — as misconduct or workplace health breaches.

Three AFP staff members have so far been punished, with one officer sacked.

Other cases have been dealt with through mediation, support services and early intervention by supervisors.

In a statement, the AFP said the number of complaints was “an encouraging sign” because it showed “members feel confident to report these matters” so they could receive support and action could be taken.

“The AFP does not tolerate misconduct involving its members, including criminal activity,” a spokeswoman said.

The alarming figures come after AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said he was “disturbed” at the findings of Ms Broderick’s report last year.

He publicly apologised to AFP staff subjected to harassment and bullying and said the cultural issues identified “must change, and from this point forward they will”.

The Safe Place unit — one of the key recommendations of Ms Broderick’s review — had dealt with 311 cases to June 30, which also included officers complaining about vilification, victimisation and procedural fairness.

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