Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane to become road safety camera watchdog
Victoria’s top road cop, Stephen Leane, has been named the state’s new Road Safety Camera Commissioner in a move that has been met with criticism from the state Opposition.
VIC News
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Victoria’s top road cop will quit his high-ranking role to become the watchdog for the state’s speed camera network.
Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane, of the road policing command, has been named the state’s new Road Safety Camera Commissioner.
But the move has been met with scepticism from the state Opposition, who claim the office was set up in 2012 to be independent from police.
The new role will see him handle complaints about Victoria’s growing network of speed and red light cameras while also monitoring the integrity of the system.
Mr Leane said it was vital people had confidence in the way the cameras were operated.
“I’ve seen first-hand the impact that road trauma has on the community and camera technology plays a critical role in reducing road trauma,” he said.
“I’ll bring my experience and commitment to road safety to the commissioner’s role, and work on behalf of the community to ensure the system is working fairly and accurately and helping to save lives.”
Police Minister Lisa Neville said Mr Leane had 40 years of experience at Victoria Police and a deep knowledge of road safety.
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“Stephen Leane has the right knowledge and experience to provide oversight and assurance of our road safety camera system, which plays a critical role in saving lives,” she said.
Opposition road safety spokesman Gordon Rich-Phillips said the appointment undermined the independence of the role.
“The public’s confidence that their complaints will be handled fairly will be seriously damaged if the commissioner reviewing the complaints is the same person who previously was running the system they’re complaining about.”