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200687
Thu, 08/11/2011 - 13:39
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http://m.oananews.org//node/200687
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Standen cases must be reviewed: NSW oppn
SYDNEY (AAP) - Aug. 11 - The state's powerful Crime Commission will be put under the microscope after one of its former crime fighters was convicted of drugs charges.
But the NSW opposition says the inquiry doesn't go far enough and all the cases investigated by the disgraced Mark Standen need to be reviewed.
Innocent people could be in jail as a result of his "dodgy investigations", opposition police spokesman Nathan Rees said on Thursday.
A jury has found that Standen, a former assistant director of investigations, plotted to import at least 300kg of pseudoephedrine and took part in the supply of 300kg of the substance.
The 54-year-old also conspired to pervert the course of justice.
NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher reacted to the conviction by announcing an independent inquiry into the NSW Crime Commission to examine its accountability, structure, procedures and oversight.
But Mr Rees has called for an immediate review of "dozens" of serious and sensitive cases investigated by Standen.
"These investigations now have a very real cloud over them and the police minister must order a review to determine if any innocent people have ended up in jail following (Standen's) dodgy investigations," he said.
The review would need to ascertain how many investigations Standen carried out, how many people were convicted and how many were not charged "despite solid evidence against them".
Greens MP David Shoebridge called on the government to order a "full and open royal commission".
"In 2008 the now police minister made an open call for a royal commission into the NSW Crime Commission," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Since then we've had this outcome, serious allegations now proven, of organised crime being run right in the heart of the NSW Crime Commission."
Mr Shoebridge said he was concerned the special commission of inquiry would have limited powers and wouldn't be able to get to the bottom of the operations.
But Mr Gallacher has ruled out a royal commission, saying any concerns relating to the past conduct of the commission would probably be referred to the Police Integrity Commission.
The commission needed "a huge injection of confidence" put back into it to reassure the public that it had gone through a period of reform, he added.
The inquiry would examine the possibility of limiting the term of the NSW Crime Commissioner to five years and whether the NSW police minister should be a chairman of the commission's management committee.
"I personally don't believe that politicians should be involved in making decisions for organised crime enforcement," he said.
The Law Society of NSW welcomed the inquiry, saying it had been calling for oversight of the organisation for five years.
The society's president, Stuart Westgarth, said an organisation should be created to oversee the commission that would operate like the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, which oversees a number of federal and military intelligence organisations.
Mr Gallacher said the inquiry would look at other models outside of NSW and internationally so the organisation could continue "taking on the fight against organised crime".
"The Crime Commission will continue to operate, it will continue to focus resources towards organised crime and it will continue to have the backing of the NSW government," he said.
The head of the inquiry will be announced shortly.
But the NSW opposition says the inquiry doesn't go far enough and all the cases investigated by the disgraced Mark Standen need to be reviewed.
Innocent people could be in jail as a result of his "dodgy investigations", opposition police spokesman Nathan Rees said on Thursday.
A jury has found that Standen, a former assistant director of investigations, plotted to import at least 300kg of pseudoephedrine and took part in the supply of 300kg of the substance.
The 54-year-old also conspired to pervert the course of justice.
NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher reacted to the conviction by announcing an independent inquiry into the NSW Crime Commission to examine its accountability, structure, procedures and oversight.
But Mr Rees has called for an immediate review of "dozens" of serious and sensitive cases investigated by Standen.
"These investigations now have a very real cloud over them and the police minister must order a review to determine if any innocent people have ended up in jail following (Standen's) dodgy investigations," he said.
The review would need to ascertain how many investigations Standen carried out, how many people were convicted and how many were not charged "despite solid evidence against them".
Greens MP David Shoebridge called on the government to order a "full and open royal commission".
"In 2008 the now police minister made an open call for a royal commission into the NSW Crime Commission," he told reporters in Sydney.
"Since then we've had this outcome, serious allegations now proven, of organised crime being run right in the heart of the NSW Crime Commission."
Mr Shoebridge said he was concerned the special commission of inquiry would have limited powers and wouldn't be able to get to the bottom of the operations.
But Mr Gallacher has ruled out a royal commission, saying any concerns relating to the past conduct of the commission would probably be referred to the Police Integrity Commission.
The commission needed "a huge injection of confidence" put back into it to reassure the public that it had gone through a period of reform, he added.
The inquiry would examine the possibility of limiting the term of the NSW Crime Commissioner to five years and whether the NSW police minister should be a chairman of the commission's management committee.
"I personally don't believe that politicians should be involved in making decisions for organised crime enforcement," he said.
The Law Society of NSW welcomed the inquiry, saying it had been calling for oversight of the organisation for five years.
The society's president, Stuart Westgarth, said an organisation should be created to oversee the commission that would operate like the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security, which oversees a number of federal and military intelligence organisations.
Mr Gallacher said the inquiry would look at other models outside of NSW and internationally so the organisation could continue "taking on the fight against organised crime".
"The Crime Commission will continue to operate, it will continue to focus resources towards organised crime and it will continue to have the backing of the NSW government," he said.
The head of the inquiry will be announced shortly.
