A high-profile Victorian police officer who played a key role in solving Melbourne's gangland murders has been charged by the state's anti-corruption body with leaking restricted information.

Key points: Commander Stuart Bateson has been charged with disclosing a restricted matter

Commander Stuart Bateson has been charged with disclosing a restricted matter It is not clear what information he is alleged to have leaked

It is not clear what information he is alleged to have leaked He has been suspended by Victoria Police while the charges are dealt with

Commander Stuart Bateson, who was the head of the African-Australian Community Taskforce, was charged by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) with three counts of "disclosing a restricted matter".

IBAC revealed the charges in a brief statement last week, but did not name the officer involved or specify what information was alleged to have been leaked.

Last night, Victoria Police confirmed the commander had been suspended.

"This follows an announcement by IBAC on 6 June that the officer was charged on summons with three counts of disclosing a restricted matter," a police statement said.

"As this is an IBAC investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further."

Commander Bateson joined the force in 1987 and performed a variety of general duty policing roles until he was promoted to detective in 1992.

He served on the Purana Taskforce, which investigated Melbourne's gangland murders, and also worked as a handler for Nicola Gobbo, the police informer known as Lawyer X.

In 2017, he was awarded the Australian Police Medal for distinguished service to law enforcement.

The African-Australian Community Taskforce he headed was set up in 2018 in response to a series of high-profile crimes.

According to radio station 3AW, Mr Bateson said he was "looking forward to fighting the charges" in a text exchange with journalist Neil Mitchell.

The case is due to be heard in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on July 4.