Victoria Police Warned Against Fake Breath Tests Ahead Of Long Weekend

AAP

2018-06-06T19:14:54+00:00

Following revelations regarding falsified breath tests, Victorian officers have been warned before the long weekend kicks off.

What you need to know

Officers have been issued a warning regarding breath tests before the long weekend
An internal report found that more than 258,000 preliminary breath tests were falsified over a five year period
Victoria Police had $4 million of road safety funding suspended following the investigation

Victorian police have been warned against faking breath tests over the coming long weekend following revelations more than a quarter of a million were falsified.

The force last week said 258,463 roadside tests had been falsified since 2012, with the figure representing 1.5 per cent of more than 17.7 million tests over the five-year period.

This has prompted Assistant Commissioner Doug Fryer to warn officers "a line in the sand has been drawn" ahead of the Queen's Birthday long weekend.

"This behaviour has to stop and it has to stop now," he told officers in an internal video message published by the Age.

"Whilst 1.5 per cent in the scheme of things sounds small, we have taken, and rightly so, a huge reputational hit.

"It's damaged our brand, there's no doubt about that."

Officers faked the tests either by placing a finger over the straw entry hole or by blowing into the straw themselves.

The reputation of the Victoria Police force took a major blow. Image: AAP

Former Victorian police chief Neil Comrie has been tasked with leading an investigation to figure out why, but a leading theory is officers were trying to make themselves look more productive.

"If owing to operational commitments, you can't do an RBT (random breath test), I get it and you won't be crucified for it," Mr Fryer said.

"If in the past you've been criticised by supervisors for not doing an RBT on a long weekend, I apologise for that, that shouldn't happen."

The fake breath test scandal cost Victoria Police part of its funding from the Transport Accident Commission for roadside operations.