Victoria’s top cop should focus on policing, not politics

Same-sex marriage ‘probably should have happened a while ago’, says Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. Photo: Andrew Henshaw

“I’ve never been someone who likes politics,’’ said Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton in June this year.

“I’ve never been around politics, interested in it, I’ve just sort of focused on the policing side of things.’’

These days police are not promoted to commissioned officer, let alone Chief Commissioner, without being politically astute, so let’s not be coy, chief. Any pretence of him eschewing politics was dispelled on Tuesday when 3AW host Neil Mitchell asked Ashton if Victoria Police had a position on the same-sex marriage survey. The proposed reforms, Ashton replied, “probably should have happened a while ago”.

“We’ve got a lot of officers who identify as LGBTI officers and yeah, we’re largely supportive of them having the same rights as everyone else,” he said.

Unlike some of his predecessors, Ashton is a composed type. He could well have deflected Mitchell’s question by saying that the police force must remain apolitical on the issue, although he himself, having worked with many LGBTI officers, had a personal view. Instead, he politicised the organisation, prompting one veteran officer to contact the station. “What the chief has just done is enter into a contentious, social change debate and he should not have done it,” he said. “Chief, I criticise you wholeheartedly for doing that and for breaking decades long of impartiality.”

"He crossed the line."@TomElliott3AW disappointed by police commissioner's response to question on 3AW https://t.co/b4QtNplYhD pic.twitter.com/v6vGMISNFv

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) October 10, 2017

Mitchell’s 3AW colleague Tom Elliott was also disconcerted. “Graham Ashton is a senior public servant,” he said. “He should not be saying that Victoria Police has this view on same-sex marriage — it’s a political view … Quite frankly I think Graham Ashton crossed the line this morning.”

Ashton later released a statement claiming that “Victoria Police officially has a neutral position on this issue”. That’s right, the bloke in the studio in the Chief Commissioner’s uniform being interviewed in his official capacity on Melbourne’s highest rating radio station reckons he was merely expressing a personal opinion. “My comments were ... made in support of a large section of my workforce who do not enjoy the same rights as their colleagues,” he added.

NOW: An angry serving member -
"What the chief has just done is enter into a contentious social-change debate." https://t.co/FEJxU7LaBj

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) October 9, 2017

What sort of disclaimer is that? Ashton also claimed he was not attempting to persuade anyone regarding their vote. That is beside the point. In making his remarks, he has sent a clear message to all members of Victoria Police. If they disagree with his ‘personal’ view on same-sex marriage, they best not make it known. One might quip in this respect a large section of the workforce does not enjoy the same right as their colleagues.

Presumably Ashton has a sound knowledge of the Victoria Police Manual, which is unambiguous when it comes to commenting publicly on political issues. “During the performance of your duties you must observe strict neutrality in all matters connected with politics,” it directs. It provides no exception for personal opinions.

Does the force have a position on #SSM?

“We think it’s probably something that should’ve happened a while ago that we’re still debating.” pic.twitter.com/tug8DygVeL

— 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) October 9, 2017

Imagine a situation where a lowly constable posted a video of himself in uniform on Facebook giving the case for the ‘No’ vote to his hundred or so followers. Would Ashton excuse this on the basis that the constable was merely expressing a personal opinion to a relatively small audience? Not at all. Why then is the Chief Commissioner free to express his personal view to an audience comprising hundreds of thousands?

In any event marriage law is a federal one, and well outside Ashton’s bailiwick. While he is at it, perhaps he should give us his views on issues like tax reform, the proposed changes to the citizenship laws, the Renewable Energy Target, and constitutional recognition for indigenous peoples. Does he believe, like Melbourne’s Yarra City Council, that it is inappropriate to celebrate Australia Day on January 26?

As we know, public servants should not express views on matters outside their domain, because it gives the perception that their impartiality is compromised. In Ashton’s case the breach is exacerbated by the fact that his views on same-sex marriage are identical to that of the Andrews Government, which is obsessed with a rainbow agenda. When Victoria’s inaugural Commissioner for Gender and Sexuality hit the road last year for the so-called Equality Roadshow across the state, she did so with a bus supplied by Ashton.

Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton. Photo: Mark Stewart

One criterion for being an effective Chief Commissioner is that of commanding respect on both sides of politics. Unfortunately Ashton does not enjoy this. The Liberal-National Opposition has questioned his independence, particularly in the decision last year to appoint Brett Curran — a former senior political adviser to Premier Daniel Andrews in Opposition — as his chief of staff. Ashton’s decision to serve only one term suggests he is well aware of his career prospects should there be a change of government next year.

If Ashton is to continue to air controversial views, he might at least confine them to his remit and avoid perceptions of bias. He could take his lead from one of his predecessors, Sinclair Imrie (Mick) Miller. Regarded as the doyen of police commissioners, Miller was stridently impartial, even to the extent of publicly castigating governments for failing to provide law enforcement with adequate resources and powers.

Alternatively Ashton could heed the words of Sir Robert Peel, British Home Secretary and later British Prime Minister, who in 1829 founded the first modern police force. The key to successful policing, he stated, in what became known as the Peelian Principles, was “To seek and preserve public favour, not be pandering to public opinion, but by constantly demonstrating absolutely impartial service to law, in complete independence of policy, and without regard to the justice or injustice of the substance of individual law.” These principles were once rote learning in police academies — certainly they were when Ashton was a fledgling constable.

Ashton need not be distracted by the same-sex marriage debate, for there is much on his beat that warrants his attention. The murder rate in Victoria increased by almost 30 per cent last year. Robbery has risen by almost 20 per cent. Car-jackings, home invasions, and jewellery heists have now become common occurrences.

“Hi, I’m the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner,” reads the biography on Ashton’s Twitter account. “This is a great organisation to lead, and I have a lot to share.” No worries, chief, provided it is strictly in line with your job description. To paraphrase you, we are not interested in politics, and we wish you would just sort of focus on the ­policing side of things.