Contention: Victoria needs secret police.
In 1982 and 1983 the Animal Liberation Front was involved with a series of letter bombs sent to politicians in the United Kingdom. This anarchist-based organisation also became active here in Melbourne in 1982 and was accountable for 96 reported cases of criminal damage. They attacked furriers, butcher shops and clothing outlets. Information gathered by covert police eventually led to a number of overseas and local members of the front being charged and bomb-making equipment seized. Despite this success and other favourable results, some extremists have pushed for all police covert operations to be ceased immediately claiming that they don't achieve anything. Victoria needs secret police.
Accurate and timely information and intelligence are vital to policing. Jeff Kennett agreed, when he said the police could not afford "to be naked in the field against those who are going to pervert the course of justice and commit acts of crime" . Sometimes this information will only be accessible through undercover means of intelligence gathering, the best example; risk assessment. If a group plans to place the community at risk, then that group will want to keep their agendas hidden, because they know the police will want to put an immediate end to their mission. These gangs of criminals often stem from political extremism, religious conflicts and ethnic tension. The vast majority of our society, those wishing to remain unaffected by political crime and violence, expect nothing less from the police, than protection.
The media have prompted a number of misconceptions to support breathless claims of a secret police conspiracy and a misuse of power. The information gathered is used to make educated decisions about the potential threat posed to public figures or the risk to community safety from demonstrations, marches and other public events. It is not used in a sinister way or to persecute people or groups.
