Police respond to IPCA /Thomas finding

Police acknowledge receipt of a report from the IPCA relating to the handling of circumstances concerning Superintendent Graham Thomas on the night of 12/13 December 2008.

Commissioner Howard Broad says Police are considering the report recommendations.

"I am pleased that the IPCA believes that the officers who attended the initial incident acted appropriately and that the decision not to lay criminal charges was correct.

The IPCA report questions whether the Police exhausted all avenues of criminal inquiry related to the case before commencing an employment investigation.

"This is a matter which I will be discussing further with the Authority," Mr Broad said.

"The officers involved in the investigation on the night discussed the matter with their supervisor. Their decision was then referred to an Inspector for review. This inspector's report was subsequently reviewed by the District Commander who occupied a more senior role than Superintendent Thomas," Mr Broad said.

"It is not clear to me, or my legal advisers, what additional investigative options could have been available and I will be following this up with the Authority.

"However, I believe that in making their decisions to commence employment procedures, the Police Executive members involved properly relied on the advice of the District with regard to the criminal matters."

"As a result of those employment procedures Superintendent Thomas is no longer in the role of National Manager: Prosecutions that he held at the time of the incident.

"I believe those procedures appropriately dealt with the employment issues and that proper sanctions were imposed," Mr Broad said.