midfielder
Well-Known Member
I am quite sad this involves a sporting body...
This is very dangerous ... we should all be a little alarmed at this .. HOW many other bodies could have similar arrangements...
From the News Site...
http://www.news.com.au/national/afls-secret-deal-to-see-police-files/story-e6frfkvr-1225902333703
AFL's secret deal to see police files
A SECRET deal between Victoria Police and the AFL to share information about players, coaches and board members has stunned the football world.
Victoria Police agreed to share any information it gathered on AFL identities, including photos and videos.
The deal was struck in September and covered the off-season. But it's believed to be part of efforts to combat sexual assault, match fixing, gambling and drug use within AFL ranks.
"It has to do with any offence where a person can be charged," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.
The AFL denied it had sought or received any files from police.
But the revelation has stunned the players' union and civil liberties advocates.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the deal was "utterly disturbing".
"I cannot imagine any circumstance that would justify our police force handing over its files to a sporting body," Mr Kennett said.
"It beggars belief that the AFL or any of their personnel are entitled to police files for any reason," he said.
A seven-page document, released under FoI laws, says police "law enforcement data" can be handed to the AFL.
"Law enforcement data may take the form of any text, images, audio and video, may be stored on computing devices, in hard copy, or on other storage media, and includes (but is not limited to) data related to individuals, aggregated data, written reports and correspondence, memoranda, police diaries, official notebooks, running sheets and other data repositories," it says.
The memorandum of understanding reveals it was designed to share information on a wide range of AFL identities: "Any player, member of the coaching staff, senior executive of the AFL or any employee, servant or agent of the AFL having official duties in relation to AFL matches."
The AFL Players' Association said players were entitled to privacy. "If information is disclosed openly, then clearly we'd have some concerns," union chief Matt Finnis said.
The reasons for the agreement have been censored.
Robin Davy, manager of the police department's FoI and privacy office, said such details had to remain secret because disclosure would affect police investigations.
Victoria Police released a statement describing the agreement as part of its effort to "generate an open and transparent line of communication" with the league.
Liberty Victoria president Michael Pearce, SC, said: "There're serious implications here for workplace issues - whether the police ought to be providing information of this kind to any employer."
AFL corporate affairs manager Brian Walsh said last night the league was subject to the same privacy laws as any other organisation.
"We abide by them, and AFL players, participants and officials receive the same protections under privacy laws as any other person in this state," he said.
"The (memorandum) was the formalisation of a long-standing commitment by the AFL to co-operate with any police inquiry."
This is very dangerous ... we should all be a little alarmed at this .. HOW many other bodies could have similar arrangements...
From the News Site...
http://www.news.com.au/national/afls-secret-deal-to-see-police-files/story-e6frfkvr-1225902333703
AFL's secret deal to see police files
A SECRET deal between Victoria Police and the AFL to share information about players, coaches and board members has stunned the football world.
Victoria Police agreed to share any information it gathered on AFL identities, including photos and videos.
The deal was struck in September and covered the off-season. But it's believed to be part of efforts to combat sexual assault, match fixing, gambling and drug use within AFL ranks.
"It has to do with any offence where a person can be charged," AFL spokesman Patrick Keane said.
The AFL denied it had sought or received any files from police.
But the revelation has stunned the players' union and civil liberties advocates.
Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said the deal was "utterly disturbing".
"I cannot imagine any circumstance that would justify our police force handing over its files to a sporting body," Mr Kennett said.
"It beggars belief that the AFL or any of their personnel are entitled to police files for any reason," he said.
A seven-page document, released under FoI laws, says police "law enforcement data" can be handed to the AFL.
"Law enforcement data may take the form of any text, images, audio and video, may be stored on computing devices, in hard copy, or on other storage media, and includes (but is not limited to) data related to individuals, aggregated data, written reports and correspondence, memoranda, police diaries, official notebooks, running sheets and other data repositories," it says.
The memorandum of understanding reveals it was designed to share information on a wide range of AFL identities: "Any player, member of the coaching staff, senior executive of the AFL or any employee, servant or agent of the AFL having official duties in relation to AFL matches."
The AFL Players' Association said players were entitled to privacy. "If information is disclosed openly, then clearly we'd have some concerns," union chief Matt Finnis said.
The reasons for the agreement have been censored.
Robin Davy, manager of the police department's FoI and privacy office, said such details had to remain secret because disclosure would affect police investigations.
Victoria Police released a statement describing the agreement as part of its effort to "generate an open and transparent line of communication" with the league.
Liberty Victoria president Michael Pearce, SC, said: "There're serious implications here for workplace issues - whether the police ought to be providing information of this kind to any employer."
AFL corporate affairs manager Brian Walsh said last night the league was subject to the same privacy laws as any other organisation.
"We abide by them, and AFL players, participants and officials receive the same protections under privacy laws as any other person in this state," he said.
"The (memorandum) was the formalisation of a long-standing commitment by the AFL to co-operate with any police inquiry."
