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Victoria Police 'faked more than 250,000 breath tests', audit reveals

Victoria Police officers faked more than 258,000 roadside breath tests, an audit of five years’ worth of data has uncovered.

Claims officers were duping the tests, by placing a finger over the straw entry hole or blowing into the straw themselves, were first reported late last year, Victoria Police said in a statement on Thursday.

“The investigation, which analysed over five years of data, 1500 preliminary breath test devices and more than 17.7 million tests, disappointingly found 258,463 PBTs or 1.5 per cent of all tests had been falsified,” Professional Standards Command Assistant Commissioner Russell Barrett said.

Claims officers were duping the tests were first reported late last year. Source: AAP
Claims officers were duping the tests were first reported late last year. Source: AAP

“This conduct will not be tolerated, any member found engaging in this practice from today [on Thursday] has been put on notice they will be investigated.

“I had not heard of our members engaging in such a practice, we let ourselves down, we’ve let the community down. It stops now.”

Victoria Police officers faked more than 258,000 roadside breath tests, an audit of five years’ worth of data has uncovered. Source: AAP
Victoria Police officers faked more than 258,000 roadside breath tests, an audit of five years’ worth of data has uncovered. Source: AAP

Victoria Police is in the process of appointing an external investigator.

“The investigation will examine how this behaviour was allowed to occur and what we can do to enhance and improve our operational practice into the future,” AC Barrett said.