Danielle Laidley suing the State of Victoria over picture sharing incident

Danielle Laidley claims police officers treated her like a “ridiculous spectacle” and that the latest photo scandal is proof of a “broken system”.

Footy great Danielle Laidley is suing the State of Victoria alleging police officers circulated photos of her at the Geelong Racecourse, treating her like a “ridiculous spectacle” for identifying as a woman.

The former North Melbourne coach claims that cops sought to “invite and expose (her) to humiliation and ridicule” when her picture was snapped at the races and sent by officers via text and shared on social media on November 6, 2021.

In a Supreme Court writ, Ms Laidley states the picture and words communicated by police about her meant that by “dressing as and/or identifying as a woman, (she) was deserving of disparagement and ridicule and that she was a ridiculous spectacle”.

She claimed she was left “injured in her feelings, credit and reputation, has been brought into public ridicule and contempt and has suffered and continues to suffer injury, loss and damage”.

Danielle Laidley claims that police officers sought to humiliate and ridicule her. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

The images – taken by officers or someone linked to the police who Ms Laidley does not know – were reshared and published on media platforms.

She claimed the officers’ actions amounted to “misfeasance in public office”.

Ms Laidley’s lawyer Jeremy King said: “I think the complaint process has been managed appallingly by Victoria Police.

“It has been seven months since we lodged the complaint and there has been no outcome letter or formal response.

“It is yet another example of the broken complaint system and why Victoria Police cannot be left to police themselves.”

Eighteen months earlier, Victoria Police officers were embroiled in a photo leak scandal after cops took pictures on their mobile phones of an arrested Ms Laidley wearing makeup and a wig at St Kilda station, in May 2020.

Those images were widely circulated, leading to several officers being charged.

After a two-year saga, Ms Laidley settled a civil case against Victoria Police in March, while the offending officers had their charges dropped.

In the latest court action lodged with the Supreme Court this week, Ms Laidley claims the officers who shared, forwarded and posted the photo and messages about her at the races had “conduced” or “intentionally participated” in their publication and republication.

The writ suggests the officers’ actions were “actuated by malice and constitutes a police tort”.

Ms Laidley argues that the State of Victoria, which operates Victoria Police, was liable because the police should have known that their actions would lead to the images and their words being shared on the internet and by the media.

Further, a duty of care was owed to Ms Laidley, which was breached by failing to “supervise, control or train” the officers.

Victoria Police said it hadn’t received the writ but will be vehemently defending the allegations.

“This matter was extensively investigated at the time and no evidence was found to suggest any Victoria Police members, either on or off duty, were involved,” a spokesperson said.

“As part of our internal investigation all members working at the event where the image was taken were contacted and investigated.

“The media outlet which initially reported the matter were contacted and refused to provide details on who sent the image, nor did they provide a copy of the alleged comments.

“Despite the best efforts of investigators we were unable to substantiate any claims that a police member was involved.”

Ms Laidley is seeking aggravated and exemplary damages, interest and costs.