Tasmania Police announces independent review into pedophilia allegations against Paul Reynolds
Tasmania Police has announced an independent review into allegations against a former senior officer after he died by suicide while under investigation five years ago.
Tasmania
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The conduct of the late Senior Sergeant Paul Reynolds will be the subject of an independent review after the child sexual abuse commission of inquiry found Tasmania Police had been aware of pedophilia allegations against the former officer for a decade before giving him a full police funeral.
Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams announced the probe on Friday, following days of pressure on the force to launch an inquiry into the matter. But the Greens say the review doesn’t appear to have the power to compel witnesses, order the production of evidence or refer individuals for prosecution.
A senior officer, speaking to the Mercury on condition of anonymity, said this week that police were “embarrassed” at having attended the massive funeral and were furious to learn that, according to the commission of inquiry, Tasmania Police had been aware of allegations against Senior Sergeant Reynolds as far back as 2008.
Senior Sergeant Reynolds died by suicide in 2018 while the allegations were being investigated. Despite this, he was afforded a police funeral with a guard of honour – a decision that was singled out for criticism in the commission of inquiry’s final report, released last week.
“Tasmania Police proactively disclosed information to the commission of inquiry in relation to Paul Reynolds and allegations about him,” Commissioner Adams said.
“The commission independently assessed this information and found there were failings in the initial investigation into allegations of child sexual abuse, and the decision to hold a police funeral following his death in 2018.
“We accept this finding and we are implementing in full the recommendations from the commission with respect to this and other matters.”
Tasmania-based barrister Regina Weiss will conduct the review, which Commissioner Adams said would assess whether Senior Sergeant Reynolds “used his position as a police officer to groom young people and commit child sexual abuse”.
It will also seek to determine whether any criminal misconduct had been committed in “his handling of matters reported to him or investigated by him during the course of his career, with particular focus on his tenure at the Deloraine Division and Prosecution Services”.
Furthermore, the review is set to look into whether officers involved in the investigation into allegations against Senior Sergeant Reynolds engaged in any misconduct themselves.
Ms Weiss has experience as a federal prosecutor and has prosecuted war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court in The Hague.
She has led the legal teams of Sport Integrity Australia, the Australian Sports Anti-doping Authority and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity and has also conducted a number of reviews into allegations of historical abuse in sport.
Ms Weiss will be provided with all the information and material that Tasmania Police handed over to the commission of inquiry and victim-survivors and members of the public are being encouraged to report any concerns or information relating to Senior Sergeant Reynolds.
Commissioner Adams said a review had been undertaken into the Tasmania Police Manual and it had been amended to include a requirement for the Commissioner of the day to consider current “Professional Standards matters” when making decisions about holding police funerals.
Once the review is complete, Ms Weiss will prepare a report outlining its outcomes, any potential misconduct findings, and recommendations regarding possible policy and practice reforms for the force.
Police, Fire and Emergency Management Minister Felix Ellis said the state government strongly supported the review.
“This investigation goes beyond the 191 recommendations of the COI. We want to not just meet but exceed their recommendations to make Tasmania the safest place in the world for children,” he said.
Mr Ellis said the decision to hold a police funeral for Senior Sergeant Reynolds was “wrong”.
Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff welcomed the review but said its terms of reference needed to be broadened.
“We are concerned the scope of the investigation is inadequate, and question whether investigator Regina Weiss will have the powers she needs to examine this issue properly,” she said.
Beyond Abuse CEO Steve Fisher, an advocate for victim-survivors of sexual abuse, said it was a “great move” to launch a review and would give “people who have been concerned about this issue … peace of mind”.
“If there was any wrongdoing … it should be highlighted,” he said.
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual violence, you can call the State-wide Sexual Assault Support Line (Sexual Assault Support Service and Laurel House) on 1800 697 877.
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