One News
March 31, 2004
Move to expose police files
A privacy law specialist says
legislation opening the secret files of the Police Complaints Authority could
be a slippery slope for the government.
The Police Complaints Authority Amendment Bill, which was introduced into
parliament under urgency on Tuesday night, allows the Commission of Inquiry
into the handling of police rape claims to look at secret PCA files.
There is currently a provision stating that the PCA's
material cannot be used as a basis for criminal proceedings.
But law specialist John Hannan says if the commission
finds there are serious matters needing further investigation, it will be hard
for the government to resist calls to allow the PCA's
files to be used for a criminal investigation.
The Police Association has criticised the bill, saying the authority will not
be able to guarantee witnesses that the information they give will be kept
secret.