A blunder by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) has seen a detective awarded a medal while he is under investigation over his alleged mishandling of a gang rape complaint.

Key points: A detective under investigation for allegedly mishandling a gang rape complaint was given a police medal, including for training sex crimes investigators

A detective under investigation for allegedly mishandling a gang rape complaint was given a police medal, including for training sex crimes investigators The Queensland Police Service has stripped him of the award, telling the alleged rape victim it was an "administrative error"

The Queensland Police Service has stripped him of the award, telling the alleged rape victim it was an "administrative error" The internal police investigations unit has been excluded from the probe because the detective now works in it

Detective Senior Sergeant Christopher Fenelon was last week given the Queensland Police Meritorious Service Medal, including for his work training sex crimes investigators.

But a furious complaint by the alleged victim in a rape case in which key evidence has been destroyed prompted Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll to strip the medal from Detective Senior Sergeant Fenelon, two days after handing it to him in a public ceremony.

The alleged victim Eve (not her real name) reported brutal assaults in Brisbane in 1995 but police took almost a quarter of a century to lay charges.

An internal police investigation is examining claims the original handling of Eve's complaint was botched.

Police records show three days were spent on the original investigation and Senior Sergeant Fenelon, the lead investigator, had not contacted Eve after new potential suspects were identified.

Police later told Eve key evidence had been destroyed or lost, including underwear, a dress, other potential sources of DNA, police statements and Senior Sergeant Fenelon's notes.

"They didn't do their job properly … and then the officer who's responsible for all of this gets an award?" Eve said.

"It was like they're saying to me 'who cares? Who cares what we do to you or what happens to you?'

"I was so full of rage that I actually sent a quite unpleasant email to them because I'm beyond breaking point."

Appearance of a conflict of interest

Police have now fast-tracked the internal investigation over concerns it was taking too long.

But the internal police investigations unit, the Ethical Standards Command (ESC), has been excluded from the probe because Senior Sergeant Fenelon works in it.

His senior role, which has included acting inspector, raises the appearance of a conflict of interest for ESC.

Police have removed references to Senior Sergeant Fenelon in an October 16 online media release about the awards ceremony.

It originally said the award was "for his extensive and protracted work as a career criminal investigator, creating and providing specialist homicide and sex offences investigation courses, and for strengthening the relationship the QPS has with the Brisbane transgender community".

Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Gollschewski personally apologised to Eve for what he said was a mistake.

He told her officers under investigation were ineligible for awards but the vetting process had failed.

Mr Gollschewski said former police commissioner Ian Stewart had signed off on the award, but the new commissioner withdrew it as soon as she learned about the matter.

He told Eve he agreed ESC should have no role in the investigation.

Mr Gollschewski also said the investigation was not moving quickly enough and he had assigned a detective full time to it.

That detective had been juggling the investigation with his regular duties and had not yet interviewed Eve or Senior Sergeant Fenelon.

'Very disturbing' case, Opposition says

Police were asked to investigate Eve's complaint five months ago by Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC), which was overseeing the matter, and asked for a final report in January.

The CCC received a joint complaint from Queensland Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington and Eve in May about the "appalling" police handling of the investigation.

The CCC referred the complaint back to ESC.

Ms Frecklington said the award was another unacceptable blunder in a "very disturbing" case.

"How many mistakes should this poor woman have to put up with?" Ms Frecklington said.

"First of all, they lose the evidence, and now they give a police officer involved in [the investigation] a medal.

"Enough is enough … whilst I'm pleased the commissioner has stepped in and removed the medal, it is deeply concerning that this happened in the first place."

Ms Frecklington said she remained concerned that evidence in other rape cases might have been destroyed and "we need to get to the bottom of this issue for the victim".

"This matter shouldn't have to reach crisis point before it gets solved," she said.

Eve said she felt she would "never trust police again" after what she described as "institutional betrayal".

"I went to police for help … for what was probably the worst thing that ever happened in my life," Eve said.

"This is what they've done to me — I've been bringing up this complaint about officer Fenelon officially since 2017 — it's almost 2020."

'An administrative error in the vetting process'

A spokesman said the QPS "acknowledges an administrative error in the vetting process" for the award.

"On the matter being brought to the [QPS]'s attention, the award was withdrawn, pending finalisation of an internal investigation," the spokesman said.

He said police could not comment on the internal investigation but had contacted "those involved and have outlined the actions taken to date".