Welcome to the March edition of IBAC Insights and our first for 2022. As I prefaced in our last edition, 2022 will be a significant year for IBAC with a number of investigations concluding and the associated reports to be published. The finalisation of several operations has been delayed because of ongoing litigation. The reports, when published, will each make recommendations as part of IBAC's prevention and education functions.

IBAC's annual snapshot provides a valuable insight into the vital role IBAC plays in Victoria's police oversight system.

Dr Cindy Davids, Associate Professor at Deakin University’s School of Law, discusses how independent oversight of police conduct is important in establishing, building and maintaining community confidence in police.  

A former client of St Paul’s Prevention Rehabilitation, Steven Sioulas, was yesterday convicted at the County Court of Victoria of trafficking cocaine and methylamphetamine and perverting the course of justice. The sentencing follows Operation Murano, an investigation by IBAC, the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, into allegations of serious corruption at St Paul’s Prevention Rehabilitation, a registered charity based in Strathmore. IBAC charged Mr Sioulas in September 2017 with providing false urine samples and drug trafficking.