Leaked Dani Laidley photos: Police officers ordered to pay compensation

Police officers will have to pay compensation to former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley. This is how much their punishment is worth.

Six police officers embroiled in the Dani Laidley photo leak scandal have been ordered to pay thousands of dollars in compensation to the former North Melbourne coach.

Chief Commissioner Shane Patton said the officers had allegations proven against them in an independent hearing on Tuesday.

Each of the officers were put on a 12-month good behaviour bond and will be made to undertake a respect course run by the Victoria Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.

Mr Patton said the officers will also each need to pay up to $3000 each to Ms Laidley for harm caused by their actions.

Police officers circulated photos of the former North Melbourne coach.

“Compensation will be awarded to Dani Laidley from each of the people … between $1000 – $3000 for the harm caused. They will have to pay that individually,” he told 3AW.

At least three police officers are facing criminal charges over the leaking images of Ms Laidley while in custody at St Kilda police station in May 2020.

Among them is Murray Gentner, a key figure in the Bourke St massacre inquest.

Leading Sen-Const Gentner tried to persuade James Gargasoulas to surrender in the period before he drove through the CBD in 2017, murdering six people he struck with his vehicle.

A court sketch of Laidley at a Melbourne Magistrates’ Court hearing.

The images of Laidley have been the subject of a major internal investigation since they were leaked and widely transmitted online.

The scandal was described by Mr Patton as one of the worst leaks in Victoria Police’s history.

More than 270 Victoria Police employees were interviewed in connection to the leak.

In December the force revealed 46 people, including 39 police and seven public servants, were possibly facing disciplinary action.

The other 224 people were cleared of criminal or internal disciplinary action because they had been sent images of Laidley after they appeared on social media.

The scandal was described as one of the worst leaks in Victoria Police’s history.

Photos of the ex-Kangaroos coach taken inside St Kilda police station went viral online after she was arrested over stalking matters in May.

One image showed the former AFL coach wearing make-up and a blonde wig and another was of Laidley’s mugshot.

Earlier this year Ms Laidley was given an 18-month good behaviour bond over the stalking charges, laid after an arrest outside the St Kilda home of a former partner.

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