‘Question’ on Police Commissioner Darren Hines’ handling of family violence allegations

The Integrity Commission says a “question remains” about Police Commissioner Darren Hine’s response to allegations that one of the state’s top cops had twice assaulted his wife.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

THE Integrity Commission says a “question remains” over Police Commissioner Darren Hine’s response to allegations one of the state’s top police officers twice assaulted his wife.

Despite ruling there was no evidence of misconduct, Integrity Commission head Richard Bingham has concluded senior police — including White Ribbon ambassador Commissioner Hine — could have better dealt with aspects of the woman’s complaints when they were first made six years ago.

The woman had alleged to police the high-ranking officer assaulted her on two occasions in 2012. The following year, she personally told Commissioner Hine of the alleged assaults. She later referred the matter to the Integrity Commission.

In a letter to the officer’s now ex-wife on October 23 last year that outlined his investigation, Mr Bingham said: “There seems little doubt that altercations of some sort occurred.”

“The question remains as to whether Commissioner Hine should have taken further action, for example by initiating disciplinary proceedings against (the high-ranking officer),” Mr Bingham wrote.

But he acknowledged the officer’s wife had, at the time, been “evincing an apparent desire to remain in the marriage” — and so it had been “reasonable” for Commissioner Hine to take it no further.

Mr Bingham said when the woman raised the matter again with Commissioner Hine in early 2017, her former husband had been required to provide a written explanation to Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard.

“This does not seem indicative of a desire on the part of the organisation to sweep the matter under the carpet,” Mr Bingham wrote.

The response, he wrote, “while perhaps not perfect, seems appropriate”.

But he added that senior police had not advised the woman how they were handling her complaint, or what action had been taken as a result.

It was also “unclear” whether the support she was offered had been adequate, Mr Bingham wrote.

In addition, his conclusions revealed Tasmania Police had failed to notify the Integrity Commission of the matter — as required under the official memorandum of understanding between the two agencies.

“With the benefit of hindsight, there are some aspects of this matter which could have been dealt with better,” Mr Bingham said.

“There is no doubt that you have experienced symptoms which unfortunately are not uncommon in victims of family violence, but it is another thing entirely to suggest that the police should have responded differently.

“Your concerns do not appear to have been dismissed out of hand, and it appears that on each occasion you were equivocal about your desire to pursue the matter.”

Mr Bingham dismissed the complaint, saying there was no public interest in further investigating the allegations because of the time that had elapsed, the disputed versions of events, and the woman’s decision not to pursue charges.

The woman, speaking to the Mercury, said she believed intervention from police would have helped her family. She said she believed Tasmania Police should set up an independent specialist support unit for officers and their partners, which would acknowledge the trauma of the job and provide support for those affected by its impact.

“It doesn’t need to be punitive, but I wasn’t saying don’t investigate this, don’t support me, just leave me alone in this situation,” she said.

“I didn’t want punitive action because I understand police officers and emergency service workers see some horrible sights daily, but they take what they see and they take it home, and if it’s not dealt with appropriately it then festers in the home.

“There needs to be adequate reporting avenues in addition to procedures that offer emotional support to all family members as well as procedures that allow forensic evidence to be gathered in a discreet and supportive environment.”

Tasmania Police Deputy Commissioner Scott Tilyard yesterday noted Tasmania Police was a White Ribbon-accredited organisation.

Tasmania Police had a People Support unit that co-ordinated welfare support services for officers and families, he said, including for victims of domestic violence.

Commissioner Tilyard confirmed no action had been taken against anyone in the force as a result of the allegations raised in the Integrity Commission because there were no findings of misconduct.

“The allegations related to events in 2012. An investigation of the circumstances did not warrant disciplinary action,” he said.