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Sexual harassment rife within Victoria police ranks, independent report finds Sexual harassment rife within Victoria police ranks, independent report finds
(35 minutes later)
An entrenched culture of sexism combined with a high tolerance for sexual harassment has harmed and sidelined members of Victoria’s police force, with sexual harassment of female staff 7% higher than in the general community, a confronting independent report released on Wednesday has found.An entrenched culture of sexism combined with a high tolerance for sexual harassment has harmed and sidelined members of Victoria’s police force, with sexual harassment of female staff 7% higher than in the general community, a confronting independent report released on Wednesday has found.
For the past year, investigators led by Victoria’s Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission have been examining the nature and prevalence of sex discrimination and sexual harassment within the state’s police force.For the past year, investigators led by Victoria’s Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission have been examining the nature and prevalence of sex discrimination and sexual harassment within the state’s police force.
It is the largest organisational review of its kind outside of the US military, and is more comprehensive than a 2012 review of the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force. It is the largest organisational review of its kind outside of the US military, and is more comprehensive than a 2012 review of the treatment of women in the Australian defence force.
Related: Victoria police force must rid itself of predatory men, says commissionerRelated: Victoria police force must rid itself of predatory men, says commissioner
Of 5,000 Victoria police members who responded to the commission’s survey, 40% of women and 7% of men had personally experienced sexual harassment. Some of that abuse was so severe that the report recommended a redress scheme be established to compensate victims. Of 5,000 Victoria police members who responded to the commission’s survey, 40% of women and 7% of men had personally experienced sexual harassment. Some of that abuse was so severe the report recommended a redress scheme be established to compensate victims.
For women, that lifetime prevalence rate is higher than that found in the community (33%) and the Australian Defence Force (25%). Just under 2% of female respondents had been raped or had experienced an attempted rape within the past five years. For women, that lifetime prevalence rate is higher than that found in the community (33%) and the Australian defence force (25%). Just under 2% of female respondents had been raped or had experienced an attempted rape within the past five years.
The survey also revealed that two-thirds of female survey participants and over half of male survey participants had witnessed at least one form of sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years.The survey also revealed that two-thirds of female survey participants and over half of male survey participants had witnessed at least one form of sexual harassment in the workplace in the past five years.
Sexual harassment was most likely to occur in a station or office environment, and women were more likely than men to also experience it off-site, for example at a social event or while on patrol. Women experienced higher rates of ‘unwelcome touching’ than those in the broader community. Sexual harassment was most likely to occur in a station or office environment, and women were more likely than men to also experience it off-site, for example at a social event or while on patrol. Women experienced higher rates of “unwelcome touching” than those in the broader community.
Lesbian women were at a higher risk of being sexually harassed, the report found.Lesbian women were at a higher risk of being sexually harassed, the report found.
Included in the findings are excerpts of interviews from women who responded to the survey. One woman described how “One night, the inspector was in the next room and calling out that he was thinking of me and masturbating and ejaculating on the wall between our rooms”. Included in the findings are excerpts of interviews from women who responded to the survey. One woman described how “one night, the inspector was in the next room and calling out that he was thinking of me and masturbating and ejaculating on the wall between our rooms”.
Another said that after she reported that her male colleague had lunged at her while they were in a police van in an attempt to sexually assault her, “I ran and called the sergeant from a house and his punishment was that he was banned from working with girls for three months”. Another said that after she reported her male colleague had lunged at her while they were in a police van in an attempt to sexually assault her, “I ran and called the sergeant from a house and his punishment was that he was banned from working with girls for three months”.
Numerous women told the commission that they had been taken to isolated locations while out on patrol with male officers, who then made sexually suggestive comments and tried to or did sexually assault them. Numerous women told the commission they had been taken to isolated locations while out on patrol with male officers, who then made sexually suggestive comments and tried to or did sexually assault them.
“After a social event one night I got home and into the house and I actually thought, ‘Phew, I made it safely through that’,” one woman told the commission.“After a social event one night I got home and into the house and I actually thought, ‘Phew, I made it safely through that’,” one woman told the commission.
“The next thing I knew was that he was inside my house. He raped me.”“The next thing I knew was that he was inside my house. He raped me.”
Men run this organisation, and they run it to suit other menMen run this organisation, and they run it to suit other men
There are about 17,000 people employed by Victoria police, including 13,200 police, 1,100 protective services officers and over 2,600 public servants. In April 2015, there were 5,618 women in Victoria police, or 31% of all employees. There are approximately 17,000 people employed by Victoria police, including 13,200 police, 1,100 protective services officers and more than 2,600 public servants. In April 2015, there were 5,618 women in Victoria police, or 31% of all employees.
Though the culture within the force had improved significantly compared with one decade ago, there remained a “highly gendered breakdown of the workforce in terms of rank / level, nature of role performed and place of work,” the report found. Though the culture within the force had improved significantly compared with one decade ago, there remained a “highly gendered breakdown of the workforce in terms of rank / level, nature of role performed and place of work”, the report found.
“Men run this organisation, and they run it to suit other men,” one member told the commission.“Men run this organisation, and they run it to suit other men,” one member told the commission.
“Women get intimidated, stood over, spoken over, excluded and overlooked – all day, every day – in this job. Because of their gender.”“Women get intimidated, stood over, spoken over, excluded and overlooked – all day, every day – in this job. Because of their gender.”
The investigation into the force was announced in November 2014 by the then Victoria police commissioner, Ken Lay, who said that the state’s police force must rid itself of predatory men who were targeting women colleagues. The investigation into the force was announced in November 2014 by the then Victoria police commissioner, Ken Lay, who said the state’s police force must rid itself of predatory men who were targeting women colleagues.
At the time, he said he was “very, very confident” that young women were being singled out for harassment, and that; “We need to get those men out of our organisation”. At the time he said he was “very, very confident” young women were being singled out for harassment, and “we need to get those men out of our organisation”.
The wide-ranging list of 20 recommendations in the report includes the development by Victoria police of a redress scheme to provide financial and non-financial support to victims; the creation of a whole-of-organisation gender and diversity strategy linked to organisational performance; and improving the promotion pathways for women. The list of 20 recommendations in the report includes the development by Victoria police of a redress scheme to provide financial and nonfinancial support to victims; the creation of a gender and diversity strategy linked to organisational performance; and improving the promotion pathways for women.
The findings will be officially launched Wednesday morning by the chief commissioner of Victoria Police, Graham Ashton, and Victoria’s human rights commissioner, Kate Jenkins. The findings will be officially launched Wednesday morning by the chief commissioner of Victoria police, Graham Ashton, and Victoria’s human rights commissioner, Kate Jenkins.
• If you are a victim of sexual violence, you can contact 1800 737 732 (RESPECT) in Australia. The crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14.• If you are a victim of sexual violence, you can contact 1800 737 732 (RESPECT) in Australia. The crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14.