Victoria Police has accused the Lawyer X royal commission of endangering the lives of several officers by disclosing their names to lawyers for several gangland figures.
Key points:
- Victoria Police raised concerns that details of officers who handle police informers have been sent to lawyers representing gangland figures
- The royal commission has defended sharing a list of the names of Source Development Unit officers who will give evidence
- The lawyers who received the list include those representing gangland criminals who hope to have their convictions quashed
The officers are members of the force's Source Development Unit, who received information from barrister turned police informer Nicola Gobbo and passed it on to colleagues investigating Melbourne's gangland war.
Their identities have not been made public due to the secretive nature of their work, but in the past fortnight the commission sent a list of names to lawyers taking part in its hearings.
Among them were solicitors acting for several gangland criminals who are hoping to have their convictions overturned because Ms Gobbo breached her duty as a lawyer.
A spokeswoman for the commission has confirmed it received a letter from Victoria Police raising concerns the names of the officers might fall into the wrong hands.
The commission has defended circulating the list, arguing lawyers for the convicted criminals needed the names to decide whether to attend hearings next week, when members of the Source Development Unit will give evidence.
The commission said the lawyers receiving the names were under strict obligations not to pass them on to their clients.
Victoria Police would not comment directly on the matter but said in a statement: "Victoria Police is constantly reviewing security arrangements for the serving and veteran officers impacted by the royal commission."
"The safety and security of our people is an absolute priority for Victoria Police," the Victoria Police spokesperson said.
"We continue to engage proactively with the royal commission to ensure that the conduct and proceedings of the royal commission do not create or increase risk to witnesses, human sources and current and former police officers."
The relationship between the commission and Victoria Police was tense even before the list was circulated.
On a number of occasions the commissioner Margaret McMurdo expressed her dissatisfaction at the pace with which documents were being produced.
The commission is examining the extent of Ms Gobbo's informing and working out which criminal convictions may be tainted as a result of the information she gave police.
The hearings resume on Tuesday.
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