Police officer tells domestic violence review of station’s misogynistic culture

A Queensland policeman has told a review into police response to domestic and family violence of a toxic culture at one station, including comments that ‘rape is surprise sex’ and instances of potential domestic violence victims turned away.

A police officer has sensationally claimed colleagues at his station have said rape victims “deserved it” or are “too ugly to be raped”.

The officer, who cannot be named to protect his identity, has told the Commission of Inquiry into Police Responses to Domestic and Family Violence that the conversations were common in the day room of his police station.

The officer said comments included “I can see why he does it to her” and “rape is surprise sex”.

The officer claimed 50 per cent of staff at his station held the views for “probably like the more misogynistic, egregious remarks”.

“But in terms of the people that will laugh along to that kind of behaviour it’s like upwards of 90, 95 per cent. Like, most people,” the officer said.

A Queensland police officer has told the Commission of Inquiry into Police Response to Domestic and Family Violence of shocking language used about alleged rape victims and domestic violence. File picture

A colleague referred to clients, colleagues and his wife as “sluts and bitches” behind their backs, according to the officer.

The officer told the inquiry that officers in his station also used other phrases.

“We have a “C---y McC--t face”, “c--t”,” the officer said.

“Like “f---ing bitch”, “f---ing slut”, “mole”.

“It’s generally behind their backs and behind the backs of the clients who aren’t in the office with us.”

The officer also claimed dayroom conversations included officers saying “ATSIs are out of control”, when referring to Indigenous people that came to police attention.

The officer also said colleagues were reluctant to take action on domestic violence victims unless there was evidence outside of the victim’s version of events.

They also said people with criminal histories were referred to as “grubs” and if they had mental health issues they were “spoons”, while people with drug and alcohol issues were a “drunk” or a “druggie”.

They also claimed they had seen cases where potential victims had been turned away.

“We’ve certainly received emails from the officer in charge saying that, ‘someone alleges DV at the front counter, a report needs to be made’,” the officer said.

“But I have definitely seen the case where people are turned away or there’s been discussion about ‘I’m not going to do anything with this, but should I put it on as a street check?’.‘No, don’t do that because then if there’s an audit you’re going to be made to report the DV’.

The officer said some officers he had worked with at his station had “perpetrator behaviour”.

“Well, I’ve known several male officers who when talking about their partners or their ex-partners, when things begin to go badly in their relationships they’ll set up – or they’ll paint an image of their partner or ex-partner that is of basically like a deranged crazy person and they’ll say, ‘she’s got really serious mental health issues. Like everything’s happening because she’s crazy’,” the officer said.

“They’ll talk about the ways in which they can utilise their knowledge of the law to influence family law court outcomes or the aggrieved’s willingness to proceed down that pathway through fear that they have more knowledge than she does about how to navigate the legal process with respect to Family Court and even like domestic violence applications.

“And just like red flags for coercive control are really evident in the way they talk about their day-to-day relationships.”

When asked about the officer’s evidence in the inquiry, a Queensland Police Service spokesman said the organisation was encouraging and supporting current and former officers contributing to the inquiry.

“A number of police officers from different stations have given evidence to date,” the spokesman said.

“One officer has given evidence about their previous experience of negative and concerning behaviours at a particular police station.

“The QPS will work with the Commission of Inquiry to examine those issues and to respond to ensure that organisational values, standards of practice and responsibilities are being maintained and, where the opportunity arises, enhanced.

“The QPS also looks forward to continuing to work with the Commission of Inquiry and receiving its recommendations.

“We are committed to strengthening and improving our response to Domestic and Family Violence matters to ensure the Service is supporting all victims and holding perpetrators to account.

Originally published as Police officer tells domestic violence review of station’s misogynistic culture