Whistleblower detective alleges internal smear campaign

Updated

Peter Fox says he is being vilified by others in the police force for speaking out

The New South Wales policeman whose explosive allegations prompted the royal commission into child sex abuse claims a senior officer has contacted his doctor as part of an internal smear campaign.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Fox says he has faced opposition from within the police force since speaking out on Lateline last week over allegations the Catholic Church had covered up evidence in relation to paedophile priests.

He says a senior officer contacted him after the interview to tell him he should not speak to the media.

And Detective Chief Inspector Fox, who is currently on stress-related sick leave, says he has since learned that his doctor has also been contacted.

"I actually went to my GP yesterday... only to discover that she had also received a phone call from the police department - a senior ranking officer - who actually tried to coerce her into even turning up at one of my doctor's appointments to direct me to stop talking to the media," he told Radio National.

"She [the doctor] actually said that she was appalled by that, and she... felt she was then being coerced into saying that I was mentally unstable."

Asked if he thought there was a smear campaign going on, Detective Chief Inspector Fox replied: "Oh yeah, but as I said, I knew that would occur."

He said he had written a letter to NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, which he also sent to Premier Barry O'Farrell, telling him to "pull them into line".

A NSW Police spokesman says two emails sent by Detective Chief Inspector Fox to Mr Scipione have been forward on to the Professional Standards Command for "assessment".

He also says officers from the injury management support unit are in constant contact with Detective Chief Inspector Fox to check on his welfare and that it is not unusual for that to include his doctor.

"We often confer with doctors to ensure the right support is placed around officers who are on long-term sick leave," the spokesman said.

Hailed a hero

Detective Chief Inspector Fox has been hailed as a hero by advocates of a royal commission into child abuse within the church, but he acknowledges his decision to speak out was a career-ending move.

"I knew when I spoke out that it was a one-way door, and there's no going back," he said.

"I don't want to make it a personal tragedy or anything for me - I don't feel that way about it.

"I was always planning to retire at 55, and that's only about 18 months down the track."

He says there is a "very small, sad element" within the police force that does not allow officers to publicly criticise how investigations have been carried out.

Over the past year Detective Chief Inspector Fox said he and his family had received "threatening letters on police letterheads", one of which caused his wife to suffer a nervous breakdown.

He says he does not know who sent the letter, but that it was "obviously some disgruntled police officer somewhere in the job that was unhappy with the stance I was taking".

Independent senator Nick Xenophon has expressed concern about the way Detective Chief Inspector Fox has been treated.

"I think it is very important Peter Fox is not penalised in any way as a result of his courage and integrity in speaking out the way he did, because I think his statements really were a tipping point in making this royal commission happen," Senator Xenophon told ABC News 24.

Key interviews: The road to the royal commission 'Explosive' allegations Lateline, November 8: Chief Inspector Peter Fox calls for a royal commission. Gillard acts November 12: Julia Gillard announces a royal commission into institutional responses to instances of child sexual abuse. 'My career is over' Lateline, November 12: Chief Inspector Peter Fox reveals he has been vilified by others within the police force for speaking out. Parents' harrowing story ABC News Breakfast, November 13: Two of Anthony and Chrissie Foster's daughters were raped by a Catholic priest. They shared their response to the announcement of a royal commission with ABC News Breakfast. 'We will cooperate' November 13: Archbishop of Sydney George Pell accuses the press of "exaggerating" the extent of abuse in the Catholic Church. Politically messy? Lateline, November 12: Priest, lawyer and professor of law Father Frank Brennan airs his concerns about the royal commission.

Topics: sexual-offences, police, royal-commissions, law-crime-and-justice, australia, nsw

First posted