Conflict of Interest in Policing

...Quality empirical research on policing in Australia is still regrettably rare. The production of such work depends upon: academics who are prepared to get out from behind their desks; police departments which are willing to open themselves to external scrutiny; funding agencies which value such research; and publishers who are committed to increasing public knowledge and understanding. This excellent book by Cindy Davids makes a significant contribution to the international, as well as the Australian, policing literature. Chief Commissioner Nixon and her colleagues in Victoria Police deserve great credit for allowing a researcher to have unrestricted access to such sensitive material as complaints files. ... - Professor David Dixon, Dean, University of New South Wales, From the Foreword ...Dr Davids provides useful and rigorous definitions of the wide range of conflicts of interest that lie in wait to ethically undo the unaware or ignorant police officer in the ordinary course of his and her public duties. She explores in great and useful detail the dimensions of the problem, the different types of cases, and, importantly, how through the complaints system those that are reported are internally investigated and resolved. She also reports on the great strengthening of the system of external review and investigation in Victoria as progressed through the creation of the Office of Police Integrity. ... This book will make a significant contribution to the education of future generations of police officers. I commend it to you. - Christine Nixon, APM, Chief Commissioner, Victoria Police, From the Introduction

• Acknowledgements List of Tables List of Figures Preface by Chief Commissioner Christine Nixon (Victoria Police) Foreword by Professor David Dixon Introduction Conflict of Interest and Police Corruption This Study Conflict of Interest Defining the Problem and Its Dimensions Introduction What is Conflict of Interest? Manifestations of Conflict of Interest Dealing with the Problem: The System of Accountability Introduction Conflict of Interest and Police Misconduct Accountability in Operation: The Victoria Police Discipline System Building Accountability The Private Realm: Relationships and Involvements Introduction Organisational Involvements Family-based Involvements Problematic Personal Relationships Discussion The Public Realm: Use and Abuse of Police Powers and Authority Introduction Intervention, Action, or Involvement in Police Investigations and Processes Use of Police Power to Harass Exercise of Improper Influence in Civil Matters Discussion The Public Realm: Use and Abuse of Police Resources Introduction Misuse of Confidential Information Misuse of Other Police Resources Summary and Discussion Conclusions and Reflections: Conflict of Interest, Police Ethics and Accountability Introduction Defining the Problem and its Dimensions Conflict of Interest and Police Ethics References Index