NSW police commissioner failed to declare link to gin supplier

The police watchdog has found NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb failed to declare a link to the supplier of gin she bought with taxpayers’ money to offer as gifts to visiting dignitaries.

Webb has been embroiled in controversy after it was revealed in parliament that she had bought dozens of bottles of personalised gin, known as Commissioner’s Gin, since taking the top job.

An anonymous complaint was lodged with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) in October last year into whether the gin purchases constituted a conflict of interest.

Police Commissioner Karen Webb.Credit: Edwina Pickles

In findings released on Wednesday, the commission did not find a case of serious misconduct against Webb or any other officers over the purchase of the bottles of gin and presentation boxes. The commission said it was also “satisfied that the purchase was in accordance with policies and procedures”. However, it found that “Commissioner Webb should have disclosed her association with the supplier when she became aware of the purchase of Commissioner’s Gin.”

There is a non-publication order on the LECC’s findings, and it did not provide details of the link Webb had to the supplier.

On Tuesday, independent upper house MP Rod Roberts told parliament he would seek an order for documents relating to Webb’s alcohol purchases.

On Wednesday, Police Minister Yasmin Catley defended the commissioner in parliament.

“The police commissioner was made aware by the previous police commissioner of a precedent of ordering bottles of wine as courtesy gifts for visiting commissioners, for other dignitaries from other jurisdictions overseas, and also for use at charity events,” Catley said. “The commissioner ordered bottles of alcohol from the same supplier as the former commissioner did. All of us have given wine as a gift – it really does seem like quite an ordinary gift to me.”

Catley also confirmed that the matter raised by Roberts had been referred to the LECC.

Roberts, who has long been a vocal critic of Webb, later told the upper house that “maladministration and potential corruption” was also plaguing the force.

He also alleged under parliamentary privilege that Webb’s purchase of bottles of gin had not been for visiting dignitaries, as she’d claimed, but for use by herself and staff. Roberts said his information was from “very good informants”.

In a statement on Wednesday evening, Webb said the comments made under parliamentary privilege were “completely false”.

“I invite public scrutiny as it is an important part of being NSW Police Commissioner, but these comments are solely intended to damage my personal reputation and have no basis in fact,” she said. “The 50 bottles were purchased in accordance with policies and procedures as outlined by LECC.”

On Wednesday, 2GB radio host Ben Fordham said he had asked Webb about her office’s purchase of alcohol, and she had responded in a text message: “After becoming commissioner, I was informed by the previous commissioner [Mick Fuller] of his practice of providing bottles of commissioner’s signature shiraz wine as courtesy gifts for visiting commissioners and dignitaries from other jurisdictions.

“I continued this tradition and ordered from the same supplier as commissioner Fuller. Some have been gifted to such visitors and others for special occasions, such as being donated to [NSW] Police Legacy as an auction item, supporting families of deceased police. This is an established precedent.”

She said “gin replaced wine. Fuller bought wine – same supplier.”

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