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Media Release - Presentation of Operation Kariba report
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has found two New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) officers engaged in serious misconduct when they detained a civilian in Burwood and later abandoned him on the side of a road in Chullora in a location where he was exposed to risk of serious injury.
Media Statement
25.06.2019
PRESENTATION OF PUBLIC REPORT IN OPERATION KARIBA
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) has found two New South Wales Police Force (NSWPF) officers engaged in serious misconduct when they detained a civilian in Burwood and later abandoned him on the side of a road in Chullora in a location where he was exposed to risk of serious injury.
Operation Kariba was an investigation by the LECC into the conduct of the two officers following the arrest of the civilian, Mr G, who was arrested on 2 April 2018 at about 9:40pm when the officers were patrolling the Burwood area. Mr G was in possession of a number of items which the officers suspected were stolen, he was intoxicated and using offensive language.
The officers took Mr G in a police caged vehicle from Burwood to Dasea Street in Chullora, an industrial area. Both officers unloaded Mr G from the vehicle and onto the side of the road and then drove off, with Mr G lying by the side of the road, still intoxicated. The events on Dasea Street were recorded on CCTV cameras.
The LECC found that both officers dealt with Mr G in a manner likely to endanger his life. The removal of Mr G to Chullora, and placing him on the side of the road in close proximity to the usual path of large transport vehicles, was a grave failure of their obligation to ensure his welfare and safety.
The removal of Mr G by the officers and leaving him in a situation of serious and obvious danger was without lawful excuse and amounted to serious misconduct.
The Commission recommends that consideration should be given to the taking of non-reviewable action against both officers pursuant to s 173 of the Police Act 1990. The NSWPF should also reconsider its training and education materials in this area.
The Operation Kariba report can be found on the LECC website.
Background
The Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is an independent statutory body. The principal functions of the Commission are to detect, investigate and expose serious misconduct and serious maladministration within the NSW Police Force and the NSW Crime Commission.
The Commission is separate from and completely independent of the NSW Police Force and NSW Crime Commission.
LECC media contact: Louisa Dear
Email: louisa.dear@lecc.nsw.gov.au
Phone: 0425 317 535