Sex harassment widespread in Australian police: survey

22 August 2016 - 08H05  GMT/UTC/ZULU TIME

by Louise Healy and Biodun Iginla, France24, Sydney

 
 
 
 
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© AFP/File | A review of the workplace culture of the Australian Federal Police has found that 46% of women and 20% of men said they had been sexually harassed in the last five years

SYDNEY - 

Almost half of the women working for Australia's national police force say they have been sexually harassed on the job, according to a report released Monday calling for urgent change.

The review of the workplace culture of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) also found that more than 60 percent of staff -- men and women -- reported being bullied.

"In the areas of sexual harassment and bullying, urgent action is required," the report's author, former sex discrimination commissioner, Elizabeth Broderick said.

A survey carried out for the report found that 46 percent of women and 20 percent of men said they had been sexually harassed in the workplace in the last five years.

"These percentages are almost double the national average," it noted.

"Sixty-two percent of men and 66 percent of women reported that they have been bullied in the workplace in the last five years."

The document, "Cultural Change: Gender Diversity and Inclusion in the Australian Federal Police", also criticised the reporting process for complaints.

Some police workers felt that if they reported harassment it would hurt their careers or result in them being ostracised or victimised while others said complaints could take too long to resolve and questioned their confidentiality.

Women across the AFP, which is separate to state police forces, also reported difficulties in having to "fit in" to a male-dominated culture, including having to "prove themselves".

"We have certainly made progress but I still think there is a culture of sexual harassment and bullying," one female participant told the survey.

Releasing the report, AFP Commissioner, Andrew Colvin admitted that "things must change" and apologised to staff past and present who had been subjected to unacceptable behaviour.

"These practices will not be tolerated," he said, adding that a new division would be established to lead cultural reform.

The review of AFP workplace culture follows several inquiries into the nation's military which has been rocked by allegations of sexual abuse and cruel initiation rituals in recent years.