Police ‘OK to review how they handled’ pedophile Ashley Paul Griffith

The Miles government is insisting Queensland police can review their own contentious handling of prior complaints against Australia’s worst pedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles. Picture: NewsWire / Tertius Pickard

The Miles Labor government insists Queensland police can review their own handling of prior complaints against Australia’s worst pedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith.

Health Minister Shannon Fentiman on Tuesday said the case was “horrific and disturbing” but resisted calls for a broad ­inquiry, saying for now it was sufficient for police to investigate police.

“The police commissioner has given the Premier an undertaking that they will do a thorough review; if there is anything that comes up in that review that requires us to look more broadly, then we will,” Ms Fentiman said.

Senior Labor minister Shannon Fentiman says Queensland police commissioner Steve Gollschewski has committed to a thorough review. Picture: Liam Kidston

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan on Tuesday. He asked Queensland police to take a second look at their dismissal of two prior complaints against Ashley Paul Griffith. Picture: NewsWire / Tertius Pickard

Police twice cleared Griffith after suspicions were reported that he had abused girls in two separate Brisbane daycare centres in October 2021 and April 2022.

His phone and homes were not searched and he was not even interviewed over the second complaint, from a three-year-old girl who told her mother that Griffith “touched my privates”.

Griffith went on to rape at least one more girl and abused three others between the first complaint to Queensland police and his arrest in an unrelated investigation in August 2022.

A subsequent search of his phones and cameras uncovered evidence he had abused 91 girls in daycare centres in Queensland.

He pleaded guilty in Brisbane’s District Court last week to 307 charges.

Ashley Paul Griffith.

“If there is anything more we need to do to make sure that families have confidence in our system, then we will do it. It is completely unacceptable, and it is horrific, and we want to make sure people have confidence,” Ms Fentiman said. “So (we will) let the police commissioner actually do that work and then come to us with any further suggestions, recommendations or the need for a further public inquiry.

“Nothing is off the table.”

Queensland police have previously cleared themselves over their handling of the complaints in an internal investigation, but Police Minister Mark Ryan last week said he had requested they take a second look.

State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said he would not commit to ordering a public inquiry if his Liberal National Party wins next month’s state election because Griffith’s case was still before the court but said “it is not off the table”.

“We are not going to allow a major failure of a system like this to just go unchecked and for things not to be improved,” he said. “I also think about it through the eyes of every parent who has to drop off their child at any daycare centre, and they will be second-guessing themselves.

“I want them to know that we intend to fix the system. We won’t rule out any legislative change or mechanism that’s needed to get to the bottom of that.”

The Queensland Police Service this week refused to answer any of The Australian’s questions.

Pressed to provide answers, a spokeswoman said: “The allegations against Griffith that were investigated by the QPS are involved in a current prosecution which is before the courts. No comment will be made to ensure the integrity of the matters before the court.”