Officer dismissed after evidence exposed of extortion,
theft and other corruption – Operation Cobalt
Operation Cobalt public hearings heard evidence that a serving NSW Police Officer and a former officer, together with two known criminals and several civilians, engaged in criminal conduct including extortion, theft, perverting the course of justice and unauthorised release of confidential NSW Police documents.
Key Points
Sgt Chris Laycock was dismissed from NSW Police in November 2004 on the strength of evidence obtained by the Commission. Public hearings exposed evidence that Laycock, together with a former police officer, two known criminals and several civilians, was involved in the extortion and theft of money, perverting the course of justice and the unauthorised release of confidential NSW police documents and information. The corrupt activities of this officer and his associates were shown to have occurred over a period of nearly 10 years. Briefs of evidence in connection with a number of serious offences by all those persons involved have been sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.
In mid-2004 the Commission commenced an investigation after information was received indicating a possible improper association between then Detective Sergeant Christopher Laycock and a known criminal, David Hopes.
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| Detective Sergeant Christopher Laycock |
Of particular note Laycock approached and warned a suspect in a nationwide child pornography investigation (Operation Auxin) and made efforts to assist a suspect in a murder investigation. In both incidents Laycock and his associates were paid significant amounts of money. No charges have been laid against either suspect.
Laycock was examined at the public hearings, as were his associates. Former police officer Christopher Walker initially failed to attend the public hearings, claiming mental illness. Subsequently he gave evidence which resulted in him being referred to the Supreme Court for Contempt of the Commission due to the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence he gave.
Shortly after the commencement of the public hearings NSW Police suspended Laycock without pay. On 21 October 2004 the Commissioner of Police issued a Notice to Show Cause pursuant to Section 181D of the Police Act 1990. On 15 November 2004 Laycock was dismissed from NSW Police.
The Commission commenced proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW and obtained a restraining order against the assets of Laycock. Subsequently a settlement was reached whereby Laycock agreed to make payment to the NSW Treasury in acknowledgement of the income he received from corrupt activities. Details appear under Criminal Assets Recovery Act 1990 in Section 8 of this report.
Briefs of evidence against Laycock and his associates for a number of serious offences examined during the public hearings have been referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions for consideration.
The Commission employed a full range of the various technical and human resources available to carry out this operation. The co-operation of the NSW Crime
Commission and the NSW Police played a significant part in the successful conclusion of this operation.
At the time of writing the Commission was drafting its report to Parliament in relation to this investigation.
Extracted from 1030 Final report matrix.doc
POLICE INTEGRITY COMMISSION – ANNUAL REPORT 2005-2006
OPERATION COBALT
As reported last year, public hearings in late 2004 and early 2005 exposed evidence that Sergeant Christopher Laycock, together with former police officer Christopher Walker, David Hopes and another known criminal, and several civilians, was involved in the extortion and theft of money, perverting the course of justice and the unauthorised release of confidential NSW police documents and information. The corrupt activities of this officer and his associates were shown to have occurred over a period of nearly 10 years. The Commission’s Report was tabled in Parliament on 14 December 2005.
The other serving police officer who came to attention during the course of Operation Cobalt was Sergeant Charles Khalifeh. In its report to Parliament, the Commission recommended NSW Police consider Khalifeh for dismissal under
s181D of the Police Act 1990 or reviewable management action under s173 of the Police Act 1990.
In the second half of 2005 briefs of evidence against Laycock and his associates for a number of serious offences examined during the public hearings were referred to the ODPP for consideration.
In December 2004 former police officer Christopher Walker was charged with contempt of the Commission after his failure to answer questions put to him at the public hearing. The proceedings in the Supreme Court of NSW were heard over several days in June 2006. On 14 July 2006 Walker was found guilty of contempt of
the Commission and sentenced on 25 September 2006 to a custodial term of six months.
5. SUMMARY REVIEW OF OPERATIONS
Management and supervision issues were also raised in the Commission’s report to Parliament on Operation Cobalt, particularly the fact that there were indicators or signs during his career that Laycock was an officer who required close supervision.
The Commission noted in its report that as a result of its investigation, NSW police conducted a review of its records concerning some of Laycock’s activities over a 10 year period. This review identified a number of indicators of Laycock’s corrupt activity, including poor record keeping and the practice of accessing COPS while on leave. Amongst other things, NSW Police identified the need for a more integrated auditing system for the use of police computer systems. In its report to Parliament, the Commission endorsed the review conducted by NSW Police and commended the development of a more integrated auditing system. Subsequent to the publication of the Commission’s report in connection with Operation Cobalt, NSW Police have noted that this process is restricted to the Professional Standards Command.
The Operation Cobalt report to Parliament also noted that informant management remains an area of constant attention and suggested that some of the information that had come to light during the course of this investigation could be used as a case study or reminder of the dangers inherent in contact between police and informants.
NSW Police has advised that a case study for an informant training program has been developed based on information from Operation Cobalt.
