Fake databases to catch out leaky cops

Electronic databases loaded with fake information could be created to test which police offers leak data as part of the Federal Government’s proposed anti-corruption measures.

The bill, introduced to parliament last week, gives new powers to law enforcement agencies to weed out corruption through the creation of clandestine operational scenarios.

Another example of such tests offered by the office of Home Affairs Minister Jason Clare includes rigging crime scenes with valuable items to catch out thieving officers.

The tests could be run within the Australian Federal Police, Australian Crime Commission and Customs and Border Protection, which would also be granted powers to run drug and alcohol tests on its staff.

Only senior officers and the integrity commissioner could authorise tests. There must be reasonable suspicion that an offence punishable by 12 months jail has occurred.

Corruption watchdog the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity would also monitor twice the number of agencies under the proposal, including the Australian Transactions Reporting and Analysis Centre and police data intelligence agency CrimTrac.

It would receive $1.3 million over three years to handle the expanded jurisdiction.

“Integrity testing is a powerful tool that puts fear in the mind of the corrupt,” Clare said.

“These laws mean that the next time an officer takes a bribe from a criminal, that criminal could be an undercover police officer.”

Clare said the tests were not tantamount to entrapment and would provide “clear and equal opportunity for a person … to pass the test or fail”.

Copyright © SC Magazine, Australia