State Coroner Calls for Substantial Laws Against Misuse of Coronial Information
Monday 2 December 2013 @ 11.30 a.m. | Crime | Judiciary, Legal Profession & Procedure
Retiring Western Australian Coroner, Alastair Hope, has called for tough legislation to prevent police misuse of confidential coronial information. Mr Hope says cases where coronial information was misused by WA police officers had caused "irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process".
Mr Hope drew examples from two WA incidents to emphasise the need for new laws to lock down substantial penalties for police officers who breach confidentiality. Mr Hope said in his last annual report as State Coroner.
"In one (incident) photographs of deceased persons was emailed to a large number of officers with no legitimate interest in the case and in the other photographs were shown at a Christmas party...Misuse of this information can cause great distress to involved families and irretrievable damage to public confidence in the coronial process…Recent cases have highlighted a need for an offence provision with substantial penalty in cases where private and confidential coronial information has been misused."
Attorney-General Michael Mischin has confirmed that he has instructed his department ‘to look into the issue’. Opposition leader Mark McGowan stressed the importance of Mr Hope’s concerns. He stressed that in the age of the internet this issue requires immediate attention given the diverse and viral nature of the online community.
However, Police Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said officers were already adequately punished for their misdemeanours. O’Callaghan provided that misuse of any information relating to an investigation is already well covered by WA police policy and code of conduct. He stressed the highly serious penalties that may result from misuse including legal disciplinary action as well as loss of employment.
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