Corrupt cops allegedly running brothel, dealing drugs and bashing sex workers

Corrupt Victorian cops ‘linked to illegal sex workers’
BY MICHAEL RUFFLES
25/11/2008

Unhealthy relationships between a small number of Victorian police and illegal sex workers are leading to entrenched corruption, with kickbacks and sexual favours common in inner Melbourne.

Anti-corruption officers have been investigating police who allegedly own and manage an unlicensed brothel, are associated with drug deals and have assaulted sex workers.

At least 40 reports alleged police misconduct in the sex industry from 2000 to 2007, largely in St Kilda, an area long known for its prostitution.

A report from the Office of Police Integrity issued yesterday finds the problems are more widespread than that would indicate, with complaints of police intimidation, discrimination and predatory sexual behaviour.

”Street-based sex workers have been described as the most vulnerable to repeat victimisation, aggravated and brutal sexual assaults, kidnapping and unlawful imprisonment, multiple forms of interpersonal violence and other crimes such as robbery and non-payment,” the report has found.

”Policing the sex industry creates special opportunities for police officers to engage in unethical conduct, such as taking payments in exchange for non-enforcement or abusing their position of power. Risks are further enhanced because sex workers and their clients are in weak positions to complain about police misconduct.”

The watchdog’s report comes after months of research by the Corruption Prevention and Education Unit into murky dealings between police and sex workers, focusing on the force’s training policy.

The report did not refer to specific cases of abuse or police corruption relating to sex workers, although the watchdog is investigating allegations of thefts, assaults and criminal associations by police attached to St Kilda police station.

Police from that station have been the subjects of rumours and investigations in the past.

The man who monitors the Office of Police Integrity, David Jones, wrote in a report to State Parliament in September that police were being investigated for owning and managing an unlicensed brothel, having improper or criminal associations with drug dealers and sex workers, and other crimes. Senior police have told Mr Jones in writing that the report may have tipped off the investigators’ targets.