Police Royal Commission presents its report

30/1/04
The Western Australian Police Royal Commission today presented its final report to the Government after a 22-month investigation into allegations of police corruption.
Attorney General Jim McGinty said the commission's findings would be publicly released when Parliament resumed in early March.
The Government would provide a comprehensive response at that time.
Mr McGinty said the Royal Commission had already led to major reform in the fight against corruption with the creation this month of WA's powerful new corruption watchdog - the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC).
This was recommended by the Royal Commission in its interim report handed down in December 2002.
The two-volume, 1,073-page report presented today would provide a comprehensive summary of the investigations conducted by the Royal Commission.
It was also expected to include recommendations on any further changes needed to State laws or investigative or administrative procedures to better investigate, prevent or expose corrupt or criminal conduct by police officers.
Mr McGinty said the Royal Commission, headed by eminent jurist Geoffrey Kennedy QC, had uncovered some disturbing incidents of contemporary corruption, with charges pending in some cases.
"Importantly, it has also played a valuable role in examining and helping lay to rest some long-standing public concerns about alleged corruption in a number of high-profile incidents and investigations dating back many years," he said.
The Royal Commission was charged with investigating whether there had been corrupt or criminal conduct by any WA police officer since January 1, 1985.
It also examined the performance and powers of agencies presently involved in investigating police corruption.
Attorney General's office: 9220 5000