'Ashamed' commissioner apologises after rape, sex assault claims in police ranks
South Australia’s police force has been hit with bombshell claims of rape and other sex attacks within its ranks.
A damning report has found a staggering one in three employees has been sexually harassed, prompting the state’s top cop to apologise and promise radical changes.
Monday was a sorry day for South Australia Police – 20 employees say they’re victims of sexual assault, including rape in the past five years.
The report surveyed 2,000 employees, with disturbing results.
“SAPOL was often referred to as a boys club and women reported being regularly put down in relation to their gender,” equal opportunity commissioner Niki Vincent said.
“Sex discrimination and sexual harassment of women and anyone else who doesn’t fit the white macho male stereotype is commonplace.”
One female reported “a male colleague offered to assist me in getting pregnant again”.
Another reported “it was common for male officers to “rate” a victim or witnesses and female colleagues”.
Police Commission Grant Stephens said he would accept the recommendations of the report.
“I unreservedly apologise to those people who have been victims of this type of behaviour,” he said.
“I’m ashamed that people within this organisation have had to experience that.”
The survey began in April and was open for five weeks, available to current and former SAPOL employees and volunteers.
In all, 38 recommendations were made and Commissioner Stevens says he will accept all of them, including providing uniforms for pregnant women, places for mothers to express and store breast milk, and a blind recruitment process where employees are hired based on applications with no gender references.
