NEWS > 19 November 2005

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Melbourne Herald Sun - Austral
19 November 2005

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Victims angry at weak leak pro

PRIVACY Commissioner Paul Chadwick is due to release his investigation into the two biggest leaks of police files in the state's history within weeks.
The news comes as one of the complainants, "Jenny", who mistakenly received 450 police files, said she was unhappy with the process and had withdrawn her complaint.
And sources said the prison whistleblower who received more than 7000 pages of police data of other Victorians also raised concerns about the investigation.

Jenny initially made a complaint to the Office of Police Integrity claiming her file had been inappropriately accessed by a local policewoman.

The OPI found there was no misconduct, but then mistakenly sent her a parcel containing the private information of 450 people, including 10 pages relating to her husband.

Mr Chadwick launched an investigation into the leak and the mass release of police LEAP files to the prison officer.

But Jenny has written to Mr Chadwick saying she has no confidence his office will put a stop to the continuing breach of her privacy and it appears to have neither the power nor commitment to address her complaint.

"It is my belief that the police officer concerned or any other officers observing this complaint can take full comfort from their apparent invincibility, while I, an ordinary citizen, am left to wonder who protects us from the supposed protectors," her letter to Mr Chadwick says, according to ABC's Stateline.

Jenny told Stateline last night she had decided to withdraw her complaint after being told that regardless of the findings of the investigation, Mr Chadwick would not be able to pursue a resolution for her.

Jenny said the office could not tell her who sent the parcel or why it was sent and she doubts they ever will.

Jenny said the Office of the Victorian Privacy Commissioner appeared to be working closely with the OPI.

"It tends to start to feel like a PR exercise for the Office of Police Integrity at this point."

Opposition police spokesman Kim Wells last night attacked the process.

"The investigation by the Privacy Commissioner has been nothing more than a whitewash," Mr Wells said.

"The Liberal Party's point of view is that the focus has been all about how the files were sent, not an investigation into the level of incompetence by the Office of Police Integrity."

Mr Wells said Jenny was disgusted and people like her who felt mistreated by the leaking of information had nowhere to turn.

"We need (Premier) Steve Bracks to come out and explain to Victorians how he is going to fix this mess," Mr Wells said.

A government spokesman said last night it would await the outcome of the investigation.

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Article sourced from

Melbourne Herald Sun - Austral19 November 2005

Victims angry at weak leak pro

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Melbourne Herald Sun - Austral
19 November 2005