Key Takeaways:
- Senior Queensland police officers revealed that controversial comments made by a detective after the Hannah Clarke murders were part of a deliberate "media strategy" that "went wrong".
- The comments, which suggested that the case may have been an instance of a husband being "driven too far", were widely criticized as "victim blaming" and led to the detective being removed from the case.
- The police service has been accused of failing to properly investigate and address domestic violence, with critics arguing that attitudes towards domestic and family violence among police remain problematic.
- An internal review of the police service’s handling of the Clarke case was not conducted, and a mandatory "contact audit" to examine all dealings between officers and family violence victims was not performed.
- The case has raised concerns about the police service’s approach to domestic violence and its impact on victims and their families.
Introduction to the Controversy
The Hannah Clarke murder case has sparked widespread controversy and criticism of the Queensland police service’s handling of domestic violence cases. In the wake of the murders, Detective Inspector Mark Thompson made comments that suggested the case may have been an instance of a husband being "driven too far", rather than a clear case of domestic violence. These comments were widely criticized as "victim blaming" and led to Thompson being removed from the case. However, newly obtained documents reveal that Thompson’s comments were part of a deliberate "media strategy" that was designed to encourage people who had previously supported or believed the perpetrator, Rowan Baxter, to come forward.
The Media Strategy
The speaking notes from a seminar presented by Thompson and Assistant Commissioner Brian Swan reveal that the media strategy was planned with the regional crime coordinator and was intended to "draw the narrative out and negative it". However, the strategy backfired, and the comments were met with widespread community backlash. The notes suggest that Thompson’s intent was to encourage people to come forward with information, but the approach was ultimately "problematic and dangerous". The use of a media strategy in a coronial investigation, where there was no person of interest, has been questioned by experts, who argue that it was "nonsensical" and potentially harmful.
Criticism and Fallout
The comments made by Thompson were heavily criticized by domestic violence campaigners, who argued that they perpetuated victim blaming and undermined the experiences of survivors of domestic violence. The criticism led to Thompson being removed from the case, and the police service has since faced accusations of failing to properly investigate and address domestic violence. The case has also raised concerns about the police service’s approach to domestic violence and its impact on victims and their families. Experts, such as Kate Pausina, a former senior detective, have argued that the comments were "problematic and dangerous" and that the idea of a media strategy in a coronial investigation was "nonsensical".
Investigation and Review
The Queensland police service has been accused of failing to conduct a thorough investigation into its own handling of the Clarke case. Despite promises to investigate and review its dealings with Clarke, the service did not conduct a mandatory "contact audit" to examine all dealings between officers and family violence victims. Nor did the force conduct an internal review of its own actions for the inquest. The lack of transparency and accountability has raised concerns about the police service’s commitment to addressing domestic violence and supporting victims and their families.
Police Attitudes Towards Domestic Violence
The case has also raised concerns about police attitudes towards domestic and family violence. Critics argue that the findings of a 100-day review into police operations, which argued that domestic violence case management was not "core business", are evidence that police attitudes towards domestic and family violence remain problematic. The review found that the "perceived primacy" of family violence meant it took up a large amount of police workload, but critics argue that this approach undermines the importance of addressing domestic violence and supporting victims and their families. The police service’s response to the criticism has been inadequate, and the lack of transparency and accountability has raised concerns about the service’s commitment to addressing domestic violence.
Conclusion
The Hannah Clarke murder case has highlighted the need for a thorough investigation into the police service’s handling of domestic violence cases. The use of a media strategy in a coronial investigation was "problematic and dangerous", and the lack of transparency and accountability has raised concerns about the police service’s commitment to addressing domestic violence and supporting victims and their families. The case has also raised concerns about police attitudes towards domestic and family violence, and the need for a more nuanced and supportive approach to addressing these complex issues. Ultimately, the police service must take responsibility for its actions and work to rebuild trust with the community, particularly with victims and survivors of domestic violence.
