Skip to content
Quick exitTranslationsGet helpSearch

Police must investigate not just privacy breach, but cultural issues

The investigation into a Victoria Police member’s leaking of photos of a person in custody over the weekend must examine not just an appalling breach of privacy, but the underlying cultural issues that allowed such an incident to arise, says the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Kristen Hilton.

5 May 2020

“This is a deplorable breach of an individual’s right to privacy by a public institution that is expected to uphold the highest standards of integrity,” said Commissioner Hilton. “Victoria Police plays a vital role in assuring the safety of the Victorian community – but they can only succeed in that role if their conduct inspires public confidence and reassures Victorians of their commitment to fair and equal treatment for all.”

Under Victoria’s Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities, all Victorians have rights to equality before the law and to the protection of their privacy and reputation. “Every individual should expect the right to not have their private lives, their family, home or personal information, interfered with. It’s clear that that right has not been upheld in this instance.”

The Commission’s report on the experiences of LGBTIQ employees within Victoria Police, Proud, visible, safe, identified a hypermasculine and heteronormative culture that normalises transphobic and homophobic attitudes and feeds constrictive stereotypes about LGBTIQ employees.

In its report, the Commission recommended a holistic approach to effect real organisational change – combining clear pathways for reporting workplace harm, training for staff and managers on the impact of workplace harm, and a shared vision for workplace culture.

In investigating this matter, it is critical that Victoria Police look beyond the privacy issues and consider the underlying cultural issues that may have contributed to or enabled the officer’s conduct, said Commissioner Hilton.

“Victoria Police has worked hard over the last few years to transform its relationship with the LGBTIQ community which, in the past, has not always been a positive one. Incidents such as this cause incredible distress and concern to members of the LGBTIQ community, and undermine the initiatives Victoria Police has taken to build a stronger and more collaborative relationship with Victoria’s LGBTIQ people,” said Commissioner Hilton.

If you’ve experienced discrimination, sexual harassment or vilification, contact our enquiries team for information about your rights. They can help you understand Victoria’s anti-discrimination laws and how you can make a complaint if you choose to.

Download the report – Proud, visible, safe

Media contact

Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission
Phone: 1300 292 153
Email: enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Subscribe to our eNews

If you’d like to hear more about the work that the Commission does, sign up to our email newsletter.

Was this page helpful?
Please select Yes or No and the second form section will appear below:

Address
Melbourne Victoria 3000

General enquiries
enquiries@veohrc.vic.gov.au

Enquiry line
1300 292 153 or (03) 9032 3583

Interpreters
1300 152 494

NRS Voice Relay
1300 555 727 then use 1300 292 153

Media enquiries
1300 292 153

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission acknowledges that we work on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. We also work remotely and serve communities on the lands of other Traditional Custodians.

We pay our respects to their Elders past and present.

The Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission recognises the injustice resulting from the colonial invasion and occupation of First Peoples’ territories and the Yoorrook Justice Commission’s findings of genocide, crimes against humanity and denial of freedoms.