In one such case, a detective regularly used the police LEAP database - which holds the details of anyone who has had contact with police either as a victim, offender, or witness - to conduct checks on at least three associates who were supplying him with drugs. When questioned by the commission, the detective said he simply wanted to ensure the main associate was not a "high-level drug dealer" because this could compromise his career. The officer ultimately resigned from Victoria Police while under investigation, but did not face any disciplinary action. In another case, an officer allegedly forwarded information, without authorisation, to a member of Parliament on December 2017. The information was from an intelligence summary of events that had occurred that day, and had the potential to affect police operations. One police officer looked up details of a sex worker they had hired. And earlier that year, IBAC began investigating a Detective Leading Senior Constable who’d been associating with a strip club manager linked to an outlaw bikie gang.

During the commission’s inquiries, the officer was found to have accessed the LEAP database for information on people in the adult entertainment industry, including the personal details of a sex worker whom the officer had hired and loaned money to. Information misuse is under-reported and under-detected across the entire public sector, according to the anti-corruption agency, so the problem could be more widespread than thought. It can also cut both ways, IBAC says, with police officers occasionally being targeted for the information they can obtain. “This targeting can take place by friends and family, or by others known to them,” the commission warned, in a report handed to police command last year. “Criminals can befriend employees with the aim of using them to access information, also known as grooming. Many Victoria Police employees have access to sensitive law enforcement data and official information, so it is difficult to detect employees who may be targeted and may offend.”

Loading Asked about the issue on Tuesday, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said the organisation had welcomed IBAC’s insights and had accepted the recommendations the commission had made. These included targeted and sustained auditing of the LEAP database, and better training and education for officers “to ensure Victoria Police employees have a greater appreciation of the importance of information security”. But the issue remains sensitive for the police, particularly in view of recent high-profile court cases involving senior officers. Charges against Commander Stuart Bateson, in particular, sent shockwaves through the force. Once touted as a future chief commissioner, Mr Bateson helped solve Melbourne’s gangland murders as a member of the Purana Taskforce, and was the head of the African-Australian Community Taskforce.

But last year, he was charged by IBAC with three counts of "disclosing a restricted matter". He has indicated that he will defend the charges against him. Former police superintendent Paul Rosenblum in 2012. Credit: Last November, former superintendent Paul Rosenblum also appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates Court accused of trying to influence a police investigation during his time with the force. This included accessing LEAP without authorisation. His case was adjourned in the Magistrates’ Court to January 28 for a committal mention. IBAC is also aware of several cases when police disclosed unauthorised information to the media, believing it was for the greater good.