Ex-NSW police officer alleges 2014 rape by senior colleague still on duty
A former NSW police officer claims she was raped by a senior male officer in 2014 and says the alleged perpetrator continues to serve in the force.
Joining the NSW Police Force in the 1990s, the officer was part of a minority of women who faced pervasive sexism and harassment. In 2014, after a work function in Sydney, a senior male officer allegedly compelled her to have another drink, drugged her, and sexually assaulted her in her hotel room. She sought medical help, contacted a sexual-assault hotline, and disclosed the assault to her commander but did not pursue a criminal investigation, fearing a trial and media exposure.
Years later she used the Sexual Assault Reporting Option to submit a detailed account, hoping for an internal inquiry without testifying in court. NSW Police acknowledged the original report, said no action could be taken then, and indicated investigators are now gathering more information. The allegation emerges shortly after one outlet's review found that 1.1% of surveyed officers said they had been sexually assaulted by a colleague in the past five years.
Why it matters
It reveals persistent sexual misconduct in policing and the obstacles victims face when seeking accountability.
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