OZschwitz: Dog food given to poLICE whistleblower

A whistleblower was given a can of dog food as a "secret santa" present after laying a complaint against a fellow police officer, an anti-corruption hearing has been told.

John Allen, counsel assisting the hearing at the Crime and Misconduct Commission CMC) into policing on the Gold Coast, told the inquiry on Thursday the incident had been "extremely distressing" to the officer.

The CMC hearing follows the watchdog's Operation Tesco which investigated allegations of police misconduct, including that some officers had associated with criminals, engaged in drug use and misused confidential police information.

Assistant Commissioner Peter Martin, who is responsible for ethical standards investigations, on Thursday told the hearing everything possible was done to support officers who came forward with complaints.

"When I hear events (such as this) it fills me with great dread. But I think that's an aberration," Mr Martin said.

The CMC's chairman, Martin Moynihan QC, told the assistant commissioner "many, many people" in the community don't accept that police can investigate police.

"It's very difficult to get the balance right. But I think we both have to do more work on putting out to the public what does happen and how (investigations) are carried out," Mr Moynihan said.

Mr Martin said he had often asked the CMC to take over or oversee investigations when he thought it would improve the public perception of transparency.

"But there will be some people who will just not accept that even the best investigation was thorough and professional," he said.

The CMC was also told police internal affairs would be beefed up following Operation Tesco, which investigated allegations of corruption on the Gold Coast.

But Mr Martin said his staff would not be assigned to regional stations for fear they would be "captured" by forming close friendships with the very officers they might have to investigate.

"There could be a perception that they might be `captured', if you like. They could be overly sympathetic to police in the local level," he said.

Mr Martin said the rate of complaints against officers on the Gold Coast and in Brisbane's Fortitude Valley was significantly higher than in other regions, but that was to be expected.

"The nature of their engagement with the community is very adversarial and confrontational, where alcohol and drugs are a factor in the arrest of people," he said.

The hearing continues.

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OZschwitz: Dog food given to poLICE whistleblower

OZschwitz: Dog food given to poLICE whistleblower

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