Rapid rise in Victoria Police members nominating themselves as gender neutral
Victoria Police figures reveal a major jump in the number of cops identifying as non-binary.
Police & Courts
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Police are nominating themselves as gender neutral at a rate of one-a-day amid claims of a clothing allowance rort.
The Herald Sun revealed on Tuesday that there had been a three-fold year-on-year increase in Victoria Police employees identifying as non-binary.
More recent figures show the rate has accelerated more heavily in the past month.
There were 28 employees who have newly self-described as gender neutral in the four weeks to Tuesday, bringing the total number force-wide to 139.
Of those, 127 were sworn members and the other 12 were public servants.
There had already been eyebrow-raising increases in the number of employees changing their profiles in the force’s human relations network.
But even that was only running at a rate of four-a-day in the 12 months to May 31 this year.
Reports emerged on social media this week that there was management frustration at the number of Victoria Police staff in southern region identifying as non-binary.
One possible explanation canvassed was that employees are trying to claim a higher clothing allowance.
The annual civilian clothing allowance for women employees is $1120 higher than for men.
The rapid rate of increase in non-binary numbers appears to indicate that such self-identification extends beyond southern region.
One former detective said it was evident from the recent level that there were non-genuine cases and that force command needed to act.
“If it’s taxpayers’ money, the department’s obliged to be insisting on proof. To increase by that amount, it has to be dodgy,” the source said.
Another ex-member said the behaviour, if it involved dishonesty, was disturbing.
“What the f … is going on? The old crook-catchers would be rolling in their graves,” he said.
Victoria Police says it is “looking into” the matter.
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