Why fake breath tests are a problem for police

Last Friday we learned that over a hundred police officers were being investigated for faking over 30,000 non-evidential breath tests. Subsequent stories have revleaed that the faking was done in a similar manner to the massive breath-test fraud in Victoria, and likely for similar reasons: to meet productivity targets. But none of the staff have been suspended, and the police just don't seem that concerned that a huge number of their staff have been implicated in a nationwide pattern of fraud (meaning: they were likely sharing information about how to do this), or why it may have happened.

Which is typical of the police as an institution. But it is a problem, and the reason why ought to be obvious to everyone: because none of these officers can do their jobs effectively any more. They've shown they are liars. And having lied about something for trivial reasons - to apparently meet management targets - who's to say that they won't lie for more important reasons as well, such as securing convictions?

The fact that a police officer has done this automatically impacts their credibility in court, and taints every piece of evidence they have ever given or managed or collected. They can't give evidence in court, they can't manage a chain of custody, they can't even be allowed at a crime scene, because who's to say they didn't plant something now? (its not as if it hasn't happened before, after all...) Any competent defence lawyer will be asking whether anyone involved in a case has ever faked a breath test (or been investigated by police for doing so), and using that to undermine the police's case or build a case for appeal. If the police can't see this, they are stupid, arrogant morons.

Meanwhile, RNZ has talked to a couple of employment lawyers, who are shocked by the scale of deceit, and draw the obvious conclusion that there is a problem with management and culture. But they also talk about how the police may be reluctant to fire people for this as being fired for deceit in a position of public trust would mean they would never be able to work in such a position again. But that's what should happen! We certainly shouldn't keep untrustworthy people in such positions to avoid people recognising that they are untrustworthy! But at the end of the day, the police will protect their own, and management will protect themselves. Holding people accountable will mean answering serious questions about why this happened and the role of police management and culture in encouraging it. Besides, the police have a target to increase numbers by 500 officers. Sacking a hundred would blow a huge hole in that. So its easier for them if its all just swept under the carpet. And if that means turning a blind eye to a bunch of untrustworthy, corrupt cops, that's a price they're willing to make Aotearoa pay. The question is whether we let them...