Board of Inquiry into Allegations Against Members of the Police Force (Beach Inquiry)

Full description

Establishment

The Board of Inquiry was appointed by order of the Executive Council on the 18th of March 1975 to inquire and report on matters concerning the Victoria Police Force.

Terms of Reference

The Board of Inquiry's terms of reference were:

Whether there is any credible evidence raising a strong and probable presumption that any and, if so, which members of the Victoria Police Force have been guilty of:

(a) criminal conspiracy, perjury, subornation of perjury, extortion, fabrication of false evidence, compounding a felony, aiding and abetting the commission of any offence or demanding or soliciting or accepting any money or any reward directly or indirectly from any person or persons in breach of any regulation under the Police Regulation Act 1958 or in circumstances involving the commission of any criminal offence

(b) harassment or intimidation of any member of the public

(c) failing to observe or comply with any of the provisions of the Chief Commissioner's Standing Orders relating to:
(i) the investigation of complaints and grievances of members of the public
(ii) the conduct of identification parades
(iii) the investigation and obtaining evidence from suspected persons.

The Inquiry was headed by Barry Beach Q.C and became known as the "Beach Inquiry".