Revelations that four openly gay police from the same Local Area Command have been subject to repeated discrimination from senior officers requires an immediate, and public, response from Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione.
Greens MP and Justice Spokesperson David Shoebridge said:
“This is not an isolated complaint, these are four officers from the same command alleging systemic discrimination against them because they are open about being gay.
“Clearly there is a significant cultural problem in a significant part of the NSW Police which must be addressed from the top down.
“Standing up to discrimination requires leadership, and that means Commissioner Scipione not hiding behind legal proceedings to avoid making comment.
“The legal proceedings taken by these police could take over a year to resolve. Commissioner Scipione must come out immediately, and loudly and proudly state that there is zero tolerance to discrimination in the NSW Police.
“These police have not felt able to raise their allegations of discrimination using the existing police complaints process, this shows the need for some honest reflection within the NSW Police.
“An open line must be made to the highest levels in the NSW Police, at either the Assistant or Deputy Commissioner level, for LGBTI police to raise any discrimination concerns and ensure they are dealt with,” Mr Shoebridge said.
Member for Newtown and NSW Greens Sexuality and Gender Identity spokesperson Jenny Leong MP said:
“I am incredibly disturbed by the reports of these incidents and the blatantly homophobic and discriminatory language being used. The community is one that is known to celebrate difference and diversity – having this type of incident occur at our local area command is unacceptable.
“This is not the first time members of the NSW police have been accused of engaging in the type of offensive discriminatory behaviour that they should be protecting communities from. There is clearly an urgent need for cultural change.
“I commend the officers who have made the decision to speak out and take action against those who have targeted them. Exposing homophobia and discrimination in a workplace is an incredibly difficult thing to do and by doing so they have done our Newtown community and the LGBTI community a service.
“We will be seeking an urgent meeting with the Police Minister and Commissioner to find out what the police leadership will be doing to attempt to rebuild the trust of the Newtown and LGBTI communities across NSW.
“If there really is a zero tolerance approach to homophobia in the NSW police then we need more than a statement from an anonymous spokesperson,” Ms Leong said.