National

Charges dropped against three Vic police

By AAP Newswire

Aug 26, 2022

Victoria Police shirts (file image) — Three Victoria Police officers have had charges of causing serious injury dropped. -AAP Image

Three Victorian police officers accused by the state's police watchdog of permanently injuring a victim have had their charges struck out.

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Benjamin Timpson, Gregory Cressal and Lachlan Barr were each charged with negligently causing serious injury by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission in June 2021, almost four years after an incident in Warrnambool.

The charges followed an investigation into a November 2017 incident, which left a victim with serious and permanent injuries.

The three officers appeared by video link in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday for a special mention.

Office of Public Prosecutions solicitor Melinda Bossio asked the court to strike out the charges.

"I make an application to withdraw all charges," she told the court.

An application by the trio's lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, to have IBAC pay for the officers' legal costs was granted by the magistrate.

The watchdog said it was preparing a special report on Victoria Police's use of force, which will look at police misconduct risks, vulnerabilities and opportunities to strengthen police practice.

"Police integrity around the use of force remains a significant focus of IBAC's work," an IBAC spokesman said in a statement.

By AAP Newswire

Australian Associated Press