Adviser a target of covert OPI investigation

A SWORN police officer who advises the Baillieu government has been linked to a covert OPI investigation sparked by the Simon Overland crisis.

Tristan Weston during last year's election campaign

A SWORN police officer who advises the Baillieu government has been linked to a covert OPI investigation sparked by the Simon Overland crisis.

A COUNTER-TERRORISM expert and sworn police officer who advises the Baillieu government has been linked to a covert Office of Police Integrity investigation sparked by the Simon Overland crisis.

Senior police believe Deputy Premier Peter Ryan's adviser Tristan Weston is a target of the OPI's investigation into ousted deputy commissioner Ken Jones.

Mr Weston is a former high-profile detective trained in counter-terrorism and ran as a Liberal candidate at the last Victorian election, narrowly falling short of claiming a seat.

His role includes liaising with police and advising Mr Ryan, who is also Police Minister, on how to deal with complex policy and personality issues.

Senior police sources said Mr Weston would be the obvious target for OPI surveillance within Mr Ryan's office.

The government did not respond to questions from The Australian yesterday as the police command crisis continued to dog the Coalition.

Attorney-General Robert Clark refused to say publicly yesterday whether he had met Sir Ken or whether he had been invited to meet the former deputy commissioner. This was after Mr Ryan on Sunday said he had rejected an approach from Sir Ken and had not been told of a secret meeting in February between Premier Ted Baillieu's chief of staff, Michael Kapel, and Sir Ken until after the fact.

Mr Baillieu also said he was not aware of the meeting, but added that he believed Mr Kapel had acted in good faith.

Mr Clark said: "Look, many people within government have many discussions with individuals related to their portfolios and I don't intend to go into the details of any discussions I may or may not have had."

Mr Clark repeatedly refused to say what, if any, discussions he had had with Sir Ken, fuelling speculation of even closer ties between the former deputy commissioner and senior government figures. Sources said later that the pair had spoken only once -- over the telephone -- about a police operational matter.

Mr Ryan, who is on compassionate leave, has refused to comment on his office structure, which is taxpayer-funded.

Sources said Mr Weston, aged in his 40s, had been made Mr Ryan's police adviser even though he was a Liberal and his minister was from the Nationals.

A senior police source said Mr Weston's phone was "most definitely" being bugged. Mr Weston declined to comment.

Opposition police spokesman James Merlino said law and order in Victoria had "descended into chaos".

"It is the only apt description of what the public is witnessing," he said. "This is a government that is out of control at the top level."

The Australian reported yesterday that Labor was considering referring the meeting between Mr Kapel and Sir Ken to the soon-to-be-formed independent corruption commission.

Known as IBAC, the commission will be based largely on the NSW ICAC model, with powers to conduct coercive hearings of police and public servants.

The OPI's decision to investigate Sir Ken comes as Mr Overland's hold on his job as chief commissioner becomes increasingly tenuous. Some senior Liberals still believe that Mr Overland should have been sacked at a cabinet meeting last month.