Secret witness hurts bodyguard cop in Victorian witness protection program

Witness protection mystery incident ‘harms’ police officer.

Victoria Police are investigating an incident involving its witness protection program.

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An endangered individual in Victoria’s top secret witness protection program has attacked a police officer assigned to keep them safe.

The mystery incident that injured the officer was detailed in the police witness protection annual report tabled in parliament, which also reveals the specialised unit was involved in nine witness protection operations and seven “alternative” protection operations in 2023-24.

Another highly confidential aspect of Victoria Police’s covert operations is detailed in a separate annual report, which reveals 160 bugs and tracking devices were deployed during the year.

“Recorded 1 instance of a protected witness harming a WPU officer (redacted),” the witness protection annual report states.

Victoria Police declined to answer questions about whether any criminal charges were laid aggainsat the witness and the extent of the officer’s injuries. The police also declined to say if the witness had been ejected from the program.

“To ensure the security of persons involved in the Victoria Police witness protection program, we will not be providing any comment on incidents that have been reported to have occurred within the program,” a police spokesperson said.

The witness protection program is one of Victoria Police’s most secretive units. Aside from the two-page annual report, no other information is made available to the public.

The unit, according to the annual report, operates “as far as reasonably possible, protecting those exposed to a risk of injury or death by reason of their participation in, or co-operation with, the criminal justice system”. The unit also “facilitated” a number of court appearances, according to the annual report.

It states people who refuse to enter into the witness protection program are offered other protective “treatments” such as help with priority public housing or ­assistance changing their name.

The Surveillance Devices Act annual report provides a rare insight into covert police operations, revealing 16 data devices, 70 listening bugs, 20 hidden cameras and 48 tracking devices were deployed during 2023-24. Information captured by the devices resulted in 50 arrests.

The information from the covert devices was used in 87 prosecutions that commenced during the year.

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