Former chief tells royal commission Victoria Police ‘leaks like a sieve’
Former Victoria Police chief Simon Overland has told the Lawyer X royal commission he feared leaks from Victoria Police because it is “the most indiscreet organisation” he has ever come across.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A culture of secrecy around informants and organised crime investigations was needed because the state’s police force “leaks like a sieve”, according to former Victoria Police chief Simon Overland.
Mr Overland on Wednesday told the Lawyer X royal commission he was selective about which detectives were in Purana Taskforce because of concerns about police corruption and the release of sensitive information.
At that time, and I think some ways this continues to be the case, Victoria Police is the most indiscreet organisation I’ve ever been associated with or come across,” he said.
“It leaks like a sieve.”
Mr Overland was on Wednesday morning examined by Rishi Nathwani, Nicola Gobbo’s lawyer, about why the gangland lawyer remained an informant despite receiving threats and internal discussions about pulling her out of the program in 2006.
“My view at the time she came in was if we could remove the threat to her from the Mokbel family that was the time to transition her out,” Mr Overland said.
SIMON OVERLAND CHANGES TUNE OVER LAWYER X
‘EVIL, CORRUPT’: GOBBO’S SWIPE AT OVERLAND
But within a year of discussions about whether Gobbo could be rewarded and released, police realized she could be used in their investigations into drug kingpin Carl Williams and ex-cop Paul Dale.
“My experience of people like Ms Gobbo, who become too closely involved with major organised crime figures in a role almost as a professional advisor, is they become trapped and it’s not possible for them to simply walk away,” Mr Overland said.
“If they simply try and walk away, or distance themselves, that places them and their lives at some considerable risk.
“I saw no other way other way out for her.”