Simon Overland resigns as Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police

FORMER police chief Christine Nixon does not believe Simon Overland was forced to resign as the state's top cop.

And she predicted a number of "very ambitious" people would already be circling to take the post Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police.

Her comments come as the police union said it was time to “get back to basics” as contenders jostle to replace Mr Overland.

Ms Nixon said she was very doubtful Mr Overland had been pushed out of her job.

"I don't think so... I just think he's come to the point that says the organisation has been damaged and times up,'' Ms Nixon told ABC radio today.

"He’s a responsible man, he’s very tough, he’s a tough operator as well."

She said she expected there were some “very ambitious people in Victoria Police and around who will want to step up for the job”.

“That’s always been the case. It was when I applied and it was when Simon applied.”

She hoped the new chief was able to “calm things a little, but also continue the reform process”.

Ms Nixon dodged questions about Sir Ken Jones, saying “I didn’t really even know Sir Ken”.

She encouraged people to judge Mr Overland on his efforts as head of the underworld killings Purana taskforce and as a deputy commissioner before being named chief.

"I do think he actually probably started out with a reasonable slate but he wanted to make change and I think you make enemies, some of those were the same ones I had,'' she said.

Fresh start for police as Overland goes

Police Association secretary Greg Davies said today he was shocked to hear of Mr Overland's resignation, despite the union’s continuing strident criticism of his tenure.

“We don’t have an issue with Mr Overland,” he said.

But he agreed with Mr Overland’s assessment that the continuing drama around the use of police statistics had become a damaging distraction for the force’s rank and file.

Earlier today he blasted the outgoing chief's handling of dodgy crime statistics just before the election as "incomprehensible", after a scathing report by the Victorian Ombudsman released to Parliament singled out Mr Overland as being responsible for their release.

"The police force should get back to basics, which is serving Victorians,” Mr Davies said.

Mr Davies said he hoped whoever replaced Mr Overland would be either a “homegrown'' Victoria Police officer or somebody with the community policing expertise of Sir Ken.

And while at least one senior officer has already put up their hand as a possible replacement, Mr Davies said it was “way too early” to say who should be in the top job.

In response to questions he said he was “open” to deposed deputy Sir Ken putting his name forward as Assistant Commissioner Ken Lay met with the Government as he prepared to take the reins as the state's acting chief.

Jamieson hints at return

Former Assistant Commissioner Gary Jamieson is not ruling out a tilt at the top job.

Mr Jamieson, whose tenure as a police officer finishes next month, said he may be prepared to come back.

”It’s always been my honour to serve Victoria Police,” he said.

The details of Mr Overland's payout are being kept confidential by the Government, with Mr Baillieu only saying “the terms were consistent with the position that he has held”.

Sen-Sgt Davies said he wasn't aware whether Mr Overland was pushed into resigning by the State Government.

“Clearly he has tendered his resignation. He hasn't been sacked,'' he said.

“He's taken the course he has and he has obviously given it some considerable thought beforehand.''

Sen-Sgt Davies said Deputy Commissioner Sir Ken Jones had been shabbily treated by Mr Overland.

He said the force had been heading in the wrong direction ever since Mr Overland took over just over two years and the first task of the new chief would be to rebuild the organisation.

The police association said it was unfortunate that it had taken so long to resolve the problems with police command.

Top cop's fall follows report on dodgy crime stats

Mr Overland offered his resignation to the State Government following the tabling of a damning Ombudsman's report on the release of dodgy crime statistics prior to last year's state election.

“I now find myself in a position where I believe it is in the best interests of Victoria and Victoria Police for me to no longer continue in that role," Mr Overland said.

His resignation today met with mixed reaction.

Mr Overland said contrary to media reports he left behind a “a talented, cohesive and effective leadership team".

He said he would be going on leave "effective today", with his resignation taking effect from July 1, before leaving the force as a “private citizen”.

He called on the media to leave him and family in peace after today.

"I will be making no further public comments after today,” he said, stressing there were several matters still under investigation he could not discuss.

A grim-faced Mr Overland refused to answer senior Herald Sun reporter Keith Moor’s question as to whether Sir Ken Jones would be a good replacement for him.

“That’s a question I’m not prepared to answer,” he said.

Asked why he had quit, he repeated it was in the best interests of the state and the police.

“I’ve always sought to act in what I think the best interests of the organisation, and in an honourable way. And I believe this is the appropriate thing to do following discussions with government."

He accepted “external pressures” had contributed to his decision, but refused to go into any detail.

“It’s been pretty clear that there’s been a lot of distractions over the last little while. It seems to me they are unlikely to abate. And it’s got to a position where my continuing in this role is counter-productive to the best interests of the organisation and the people of Victoria," he said.

“Accordingly I’m doing what I think is the right thing and am stepping aside and let someone else take on this important role.

He rejected suggestions he was pressured to resign by Police Minister Peter Ryan, and also would not disclose anything about what is believed to be a large payout.

“I am not going to go into any matters that are essentially of a private matter.”

He played down the significance of the Ombudsman’s report, saying it “essentially questioned a judgment call I made and said I should have qualified some statistics”.

“It’s not the straw that’s broken the camel’s back as far as I’m concerned. There’s clearly been a lot of issues running … they have become a significant distraction for the organisation.”

He stressed there was “no evidence” he did anything to influence the last election, which is backed up by the Ombudsman’s report.

Asked if he had “any regrets about your time in the top job?” Mr Overland was unequivocal: “No”.

The media conference was due to begin at 1.30pm but started five minutes early and Mr Overland abruptly ended it less than four minutes later, as the media pressed for more detail about his decision.

Baillieu announces Overland's fall from grace

Earlier today, Mr Baillieu said he had had discussions with Mr Overland about the Ombudsman's report.

"We have had discussions since receiving this report with the Chief Commissioner and the Chief Commissioner has advised that he will today be submitting his resignation to the Governor. And indeed I understand that that has now occurred," Mr Baillieu said.

"We thank him for his service to the State Government of Victoria."

Mr Ryan said he had considered the report over the past 24 hours and rang Mr Overland last night.

"In the course of our discussions, he (Mr Overland) indicated to me he would offer his resignation as commissioner of police. I indicated that offer would be accepted," Mr Ryan said.

"We wish him well in his future career."

Mr Ryan said he would not go into details of his discussion with Mr Overland overnight.

He refused to confirm or deny whether he had asked Mr Overland to resign, but admitted the resignation only became a prospect mid way into the talk even though both men had been aware of the full details of the report before the conversation began.

Neither Mr Baillieu or Mr Ryan would publicly admit to being relieved that the tense standoff was over, but the mood of both men was in stark contrast to the pressured image they have presented at previous appearances during the unfolding scandal.

Standing side by side on the parliament steps, the Coalition leaders were prepared to answer all questions from the media in a far more relieved manner.

Mr Baillieu said there were "significant concerns" in the report despite the recommendations having been followed.

He stressed the Rush inquiry into police command would still go ahead.

Ombudsman report finds Overland behind release of misleading stats

The Ombudsman's report found crime data released last October was distorted and was always likely to be used as a political tool.

Ombudsman George Brouwer found the police claims of a 27.5 per cent reduction in assaults was "misleading and inconsistent with all other available data''.

The decision to release the dodgy crime statistics on the eve of entering election caretaker mode was the Chief Commissioner's and his alone.

But Mr Overland gave evidence that his decision to rush the statistics and release them before they had a chance to qualify the data was far from being politically motivated, saying his decision was made to avoid releasing them closer to the election.

"I do accept that is a reason why it is important to qualify data...and that it was an oversight and mistake not to have done that on this occasion,'' he told the Ombudsman.

"My evidence is quite clear that I appreciated the political sensitivity of the release of quarterly crime statistics at this time...relying on unsettled data without appropriate qualification was a mistake, but there is no basis to suggest it was conscious manipulation.''

Release of stats "incomprehensible" - union

Mr Davies said the report showed that despite the police commissioner’s denial, concerns about the release of the statistics had clearly been raised with him.

“I think it’s clear when you read the entire report, that there was a large body of disquiet amongst senior police at the force about these figures," he told 3AW radio.

“Despite the police commissioner’s denial that anyone spoke to him about it, he chose to release them.

“I think it’s incomprehensible that he would do that in the face of that advice.”

He said Mr Overland told the inquiry the force would never had relied on the figures.

"It's not good enough to make operation decisions on, but it's good enough to release in the middle of an election campaign on law and order,” Mr Davies said.

“It’s almost beyond belief.”

This morning's report also criticised senior police for failing to pass on the force's senior statistician's warning that the data was not complete.

Overland adviser warned him about figures

It also found Mr Overland was warned by his senior media advisor Nicole McKechnie about the "volatility" of the figures and urged him against including them.

"I raised it with the Chief Commissioner . . . essentially it was, I’m - concerned about including these figures. I understand the Government’s keen to have them in but I’m concerned about them being included because – because of the perception,” the report quotes Ms McKechnie as telling the Ombudsman.

The report notes Ms McKechie said it was the Chief Commissioner’s decision to release the crime statistics and that there was some haste to get the media release out before the start of the caretaker period.

Mr Brouwer said Deputy Commissioner Kieran Walshe should have recognised the data was misleading as he attended a crime statistics forum just three weeks before the data was released and the figure for assaults was a 4.2 per cent increase.

Mr Brouwer found the faulty data let rank and file police officers down by undermining their ability to push for greater resources.

He recommended an independent body be set up for managing the release of crime statistics.

Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews said the report vindicated the former Labor government by finding the quality and timing of the data release was decided by police alone.

Mr Andrews said the report failed to justify the "unrelenting campaign" being waged by the Coalition against Mr Overland and denied the police chief was proven to be incompetent.

Former Labor Police Minister James Merlino denied he or anyone else had ever placed pressure on the force to release the data and that he simply commented on it after it had been independently released.

"The timing was absolutely a decision of Victoria Police," Mr Merlino said.

heraldsun 16 Jun 2011

More lies from the Top Cop in Victoria.

He previously mentioned that he welcomes any inquiry, as he has nothing to fear, and that he is the right man for the job.

Then today the press are treated to the news that he resigns.

Top Jobs are given to mates, and NOT based on the person's ability to perform in the role.

Christine Nixon was given the job as Victoria's previous Top Cop, not based on her ability, but because who she knew.

She was an incompetent head, and this was show in its pinnacle when she went to a dinner during the Victorian bushfire crisis.

Overland's resignation saves the corrupt politicians that supported him.

There will be not inquiry into the government corruption behind Overland.

The masses are aware of the corruption behind the scenes, but nothing will be done about this.

IT can be clearly seen, these are the people who are ABOVE the LAW.