Senior Victorian police in IBAC’s crosshairs

IBAC’s Operation Picton has seized mobile phone records as it investigates senior police — including two high-ranking officers — amid complaints of perjury and allegations of perverting the course of justice.

The complaint that triggered IBAC’s Operation Picton related to a former homicide squad detective and Purana gang war officer more than two years ago.

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Victoria’s anti-corruption agency is investigating serious allegations against two high-ranking officers and a number of other senior police, and has searched mobile phone records as part of the probe, codenamed Operation Picton.

The Australian can reveal the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission launched Operation Picton after receiving a complaint over allegations of perjury and an associated cover-up between 2018 and 2021.

The complaint that triggered Operation Picton related to an earlier prosecution of a former homicide squad detective and Purana gang war officer more than two years ago.

A mystery mobile phone is at the centre of the investigation and The Australian can reveal IBAC has deployed its powers to obtain call charge records and other details surrounding the phone’s use.

Operation Picton has been methodically playing out behind the scenes, but the existence of the inquiry is beginning to spread through the ranks of Victoria Police as IBAC investigators ramp up the probe.

The Australian has been told IBAC has executed search warrants on some serving officers as part of the inquiry.

IBAC declined to respond to a series of questions from The Australian on Monday, only releasing a broad statement.

“As a matter of practice, IBAC does not comment on whether it has a complaint or investigation before it,” an IBAC spokesperson said. Victoria Police declined to respond to questions.

“Any questions about any ­potential IBAC investigation are a matter for IBAC,” a police spokesperson said.

The complaint to IBAC has alleged that the two high-ranking officers failed to properly investigate a former detective’s internal police complaint against a handful of senior officers.

It claims the senior officers engaged in perjury and misconduct as part of the former detective’s prosecution in 2021 for his alleged misconduct relating to a separate and earlier IBAC investigation.

In 2021, the former detective was found guilty by a magistrate of a number of charges relating to an earlier IBAC investigation.

The verdict and fine were thrown out by the County Court.

The Australian has appro­ached the former detective for comment. After being cleared, the detective lodged a complaint with Victoria Police ethical standards about the investigation that saw him originally found guilty. But that didn’t progress.

It’s understood the conduct of this investigation ruffled a lot of feathers both inside and outside Victoria Police, leading to the establishment of Operation Picton.

The specifics of the complaint against one of the high-ranking officers include that between February 2022 and May 2023 they failed to properly investigate the former detective’s complaint about a number of officers.

The allegations relating to the second high-ranking officer are that they directed the other officer to make the complaint go away.

IBAC is also looking into the complaint that alleges a police ­officer – a witness whose identity is suppressed – committed perjury and perverted the course of justice in June 2021. Several other police officers – including detective sergeants, superintendents and inspectors – are also being looked at by Operation Picton after being the subject of complaints.

Allegations surrounding the use of a mystery mobile phone have emerged as central to Operation Picton.

(IBAC operations are randomly named after Australian rivers. The Picton River flows through southern Tasmania.)

The Australian has confirmed IBAC is investigating whether a mystery mobile phone was used and whether its call charge records support the complaint that evidence that might have cleared the former detective of the charges in 2021 was suppressed and concealed.

If an investigation crosses a legal threshold, IBAC also has the power to use surveillance devices, intercept telecommunications, hold private and public examinations, and require people to give evidence at an examination.

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