Offenders sent DV victim data in police system blunder

Savannah Meacham |

A political row has erupted after details of victims were sent to offenders in a police breach.
A political row has erupted after details of victims were sent to offenders in a police breach.

The addresses of domestic violence victims have been shared with offenders by Queensland police, including a “vulnerable woman” who was then allegedly told to relocate by officers.

The state government apologised on Thursday after it emerged a woman felt “completely defeated” when her personal information was exposed by the serious data breach.

Premier Steven Miles confirmed addresses of victims in at least five matters – including domestic violence cases – had been sent to offenders by police, sparking a review.

A victim said she was told by police to move after her address was shared by the “computer issue”, the opposition revealed on Thursday.

Queensland police
Police are reviewing policy, procedures, training, internal communications and awareness. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS)

Police allegedly later organised for CCTV cameras to be installed at her house.

A letter to the victim from the police minister’s office showed the matter had been referred to the corruption watchdog.

Opposition victim support spokeswoman Laura Gerber claimed Police Minister Mark Ryan’s office organised for the CCTV to be set up at the victim’s house.

“The minister’s office arranged for CCTV to be installed at the vulnerable woman’s home and the matter was referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission,” she told parliament.

The Labor government said it first heard about the data breach after a media enquiry in July.

But the Liberal National Party opposition accused the government of knowing about it for months.

It said the victim who claimed police told her to relocate before installing CCTV had contacted Mr Ryan on multiple occasions between March and May.

“I feel completely defeated, broken, scared and worried,” her email to the minister said.

But Mr Ryan said every complaint that came through his office was referred to police.

“It’s not correct to say that matters weren’t acted upon because every matter … follows a very rigorous, comprehensive and serious process,” he said.

The minister said the data system breach would be rectified so it never happened again.

It had been identified as an issue in Queensland police records and information management exchange system.

Police Minister Mark Ryan
Minister Mark Ryan says all complaints to his office are passed on to police. (Jono Searle/AAP PHOTOS)

“The Queensland Police Service is taking it very seriously,” Mr Ryan told parliament on Thursday.

“I’m sorry … the police service is very sorry.

“It shouldn’t have happened, but it has happened.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Kelly is heading a working group to identify a solution and is leading a review of policy, procedures, training, internal communications and awareness.

The government last month announced a four-year domestic and family violence strategy targeting men.

It aims to boost support and interventions for violent people and children exposed to domestic violence, increase accountability for offenders and raise community understanding through various initiatives.

An estimated 831,400 women in Queensland have experienced violence since the age of 15, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

According to Queensland Police data, there have been 39,407 breaches of domestic violence prevention orders this year to date.

In 2023, there were more than 61,000 breaches.

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AAP