Commissioner of Police v Lewis

[1998] AFPDT 1

~ P l j q b

JUDGMENT NO. .....Hwm w 10w1-

I N THE FEDERAL POLICE

DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL

FPDT No 6 o f 1997

COMMISS IONER OF POLICE

STAFF MEMBER NORMAN H .

LEWIS

TRIBUNAL : SPECIAL MAGISTRATE 3.J.DAINER AM, RFD, MEMBER.

DATE	:	18 th MARCH 1998
P LAC E	:	CANBERRA, A.C.T.

FINDINGS.

1 . On charge No AFP: WENLOO1 , a1 l eg i ng t h a t S t a f f Member

Norman Har ry Lewis, as an appointee o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n

Federa l P o l i c e , commit ted t h e o f f ence o f improper conduct ,

c o n t r a r y t o Regu la t i on 1 8 ( l ) ( d ) o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Federal

P o l i c e	( D i s c i p l i n e )	Regu la t i ons ,	t h e	T r i b u n a l	f i n d s	him
g u i l t y .

2. . On charge No AFP:WENL002, a l l e g i n g t h a t S t a f f Member

Norman Har ry L e w i s , as an appoin tee o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n

Federa l P o l i c e , commit ted t h e o f fence o f improper conduct ,

c o n t r a r y t o Regu la t i on 1 8 ( l ) ( d ) o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Federal

P o l i c e	( D i s c i p l i n e )	Regu la t i ons ,	t h e	T r i b u n a l	f i n d s	h im
g u i l t y .

I n accordance w i t h Sec t i on 67(3)(b) o f t h e Complaints

( A u s t r a l i a n Federa l P o l i c e ) Act 1981, t h e proceedings a re

hereby r e m i t t e d t o t h e Commissioner o f P o l i c e f o r t h e

i m p o s i t i o n o f a p e n a l t y on t h e member i n r espec t o f each

b reach o f d i s c i p l i ne. I

(JOHN' J. DAINER)

MEMBER

I N THE FEDERAL POLICE	FPDT 6 OF 1997
DISCIPLINARY TRIBUNAL
COMMISS IONER OF POLICE

v .

STAFF MEMBER NORMAN H .

LEW I S

TRIBUNAL :	SPECIAL MAGISTRATE J.J.DAINER AM, RFD, MEMBER
DATE	18th MARCH 1998.

PLACE : CANBERRA, A.C.T.

REASONS FOR DECISION

S t a f f Member Norman Har ry Lewis was charged w i t h two

o f f e n c e s under Regu la t i on 1 8 ( l ) ( d ) o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Federal

P o l i c e ( D i s c i p l i n e ) Regu la t i ons .

The f i r s t charge, AFP:WENL001, a l l e g e d t h a t , as an appoin tee

o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n Federal P o l i c e , he was g u i l t y o f improper

conduct , e i t h e r i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y o r o the rw i se . The

p a r t i c u l a r s o f t h e charge were t h a t , on 31st J u l y 1996, a t

Kiama i n t h e S t a t e o f New South Wales, he represen ted

h i m s e l f t o M r Graham Walker as a member o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n

Federal P o l i c e by i d e n t i f y i n g h i m s e l f as be ing f rom t h e

A u s t r a l i an Federal Pol i c e unde r tak ing su rve i l lance , and by

p roduc ing an i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ca rd t o him.

The second charge a1 leged t h a t , as an appoin tee o f t h e

A u s t r a l i a n Federal P o l i c e , he was g u i l t y o f improper

conduct , e i t h e r i n h i s o f f i c i a l c a p a c i t y o r o the rw i se . The

p a r t i c u l a r s o f t h e charge were t h a t , on 31st J u l y 1996, he

was absent from on o r about 1230 hours t o 1710 hours on t h a t

day w i t h o u t permiss ion o r a u t h o r i t y .

8y consen t , February 1998. t h e charges were heard t o g e t h e r , on 1 3 t h

M r T. Howe appeared on beha l f o f t h e Commissioner o f P o l i c e .

M r J . Constance appeared on b e h a l f o f S t a f f ,vlember Lewis.

I w i l l dea l w i t h charge AFP:WENL001 f i r s t .

The f a c t s were w i t h i n a compara t i ve l y sma l l compass, t h e

o n l y r e a l d i s p u t e be ing t h e con ten t o f a conve rsa t i on which

was a l l e g e d t o have occu r red between M r Lewis and M r Graham

Walker on 3 1 s t J u l y 1996 a t Kiama.

Because o f ev idence g i ven rega rd ing t h e d i f f e r e n c e between a

"Sworn Member" and a " S t a f f Member" o f t h e A u s t r a l i a n

Federal P o l i c e (AFP), i t should be no ted a t t h i s p o i n t t h a t

t h e former d e s c r i p t i o n a p p l i e s t o a person who i s sworn i n

as a P o l i c e Constab le , however descr ibed , and who has d u t i e s

and r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s as w e l l as powers as such, e . g . , t h e

power o f a r r e s t .

The l a t t e r d e s c r i p t i o n a p p l i e s t o a person who per forms

a d m i n i s t r a t i v e d u t i e s , i n t h e same way i n which a p u b l i c

se rvan t does, and who does n o t have t h e d u t i e s and

r e s p o n s i b i l i t e s o r t h e powers o f a sworn member.

T h i s d i s t i n c t i o n i s o f impor tance when t h e f a c t u a l s i t u a t i o n

i n t h i s m a t t e r i s examined, because t h e essence o f t h e

Commissioner 's case i s t h a t M r Lewis, who was a s t a f f

member, rep resen ted h i m s e l f t o be a sworn member.

M r Lewis has been a s t a f f member o f t h e AFP f o r some 14

years . He was work ing a t t h e r e l e v a n t t i m e a t t h e

A r c h i v e s O f f i c e a t M i t c h e l l i n t h e ACT as an A c t i n g Work

L e v e l 4 , a r e l a t i v e l y s e n i o r p o s i t i o n w i t h i n t h e AFP, and

was e n t i t l e d t o t h e use o f a Commonwealth p r i v a t e l y - p l a t e d

mo to r v e h i c l e .

He had been i n v o l v e d i n p r o c e e d i n g s i n t h e F a m i l y C o u r t f o r

some t i m e , and had been h a v i n g d i f f i c u l t i e s r e g a r d i n g access

t o h i s 1 2 - y e a r o l d son, who r e s i d e d w i t h h i s mo the r i n t h e

Wol longong a r e a .

On 3 1 s t J u l y 1996, Mr L e w i s was w o r k i n g a t t h e A r c h i v e s

O f f i c e when he d e c i d e d , "on t h e s p u r o f t h e moment", a t 1200

o r 1230 h o u r s , t o go t o Kiama, nea r Wo l l ongong , where h i s

son a t t e n d e d p r i o r a r rangemen ts s c h o o l , t o see h im . He had n o t made any

t o have access t o h i s son i n t h i s manner .

M r Lewis d r o v e t o Kiama, a r r i v i n g a t a p p r o x i m a t e l y 1500

h o u r s . He w a i t e d o u t s i d e t h e p r i m a r y s c h o o l w h i c h h i s son

a t t e n d e d , w a t c h i n g f o r h i m . He saw some c h i l d r e n o n

b i c y c l e s and f o l l o w e d them, t o see i f h i s son was among

them. He a l s o d r o v e t o t h e r a i l w a y s t a t i o n , and p a s t h i s

s o n ' s home, w i t h o u t f i n d i n g h i m . He t h e n d e c i d e d t o o b s e r v e

schoo l buses e n t e r i n g t h e a r e a .

M r Graham W a l k e r , t h e p e r s o n m e n t i o n e d i n t h e cha rge , gave

e v i d e n c e t h a t a b o u t 1615 o r 1620 h o u r s , h i s 12 -yea r o l d

d a u g h t e r , C a r l i , a r r i v e d home f r o m s c h o o l w i t h h e r s c h o o l

f r i e n d Jemma. She was 15 o r 20 m i n u t e s l a t e , and was " i n

an	e x c i t e d manner" .
On	Mr Wa lke r i n q u i r i n g as t o why she was l a t e , he s a i d h i s

d a u g h t e r t o l d h i m t h a t t h e r e had been a man i n a c a r

watch ing them when t h e y got o f f t h e school bus. They

r e f e r r e d t o him as a " s t r a n g e r " .

M r Walker s a i d C a r l i t o l d him t h a t t h e c a r d rove p a s t them,

then d i d a "U" - tu rn and then parked on t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f

t h e road t o them and seemed t o be obse rv i ng them. The two

g i r l s were apprehens ive about t h e man's behav iour and

stopped. A t t h a t s t age , Jemma's mother, who was observ ing them, walked down t h e road towards them t o see what was

go ing on, and t h e c a r d rove o f f .

M r Walker s a i d he had t o d r i v e h i s daughter t o a p i ano

l esson a t 1630 hours a t a house about one k i l o m e t r e away.

The r o u t e he t o o k was t h e same as t h a t t r a v e r s e d by C a r l i on

t h e way home from t h e school bus.

As t hey approached Gainsborough Oval, C a r l i p o i n t e d t o a c a r

which was s t a t i o n a r y on t h e s i d e o f t h e road, and s a i d

" T h a t ' s t h e c a r , Dad". M r Walker b e l i e v e d t h e c a r was a

"charcoa l grey Ford" . He saw a man g e t o u t o f t h e c a r and

wa lk towards a p l ayg round where t h e r e were c h i l d r e n aged

about 12 t o 16 p l a y i n g . The man looked a t them, and then

r e t u r n e d t o t h e c a r .

M r Walker con t i nued p a s t t h e c a r and dropped h i s daughter

o f f f o r her p iano l esson . When pass ing t h e c a r , he s a i d he

made a mental no te o f t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n number.

Wh i le h i s daughter was l e a v i n g t h e c a r , M r Walker s a i d t h e

o t h e r c a r p u l l e d up about 30 metres i n f r o n t o f h im. The

male d r i v e r "seemed t o be t u r n i n g around and watch ing" . M r

Walker s a i d t h a t " a t t h a t s tage I thought w e l l I b e t t e r go

and see what ' S happening" .

M r Wa lke r approached t h e c a r , and n o t i c e d t h a t t h e d r i v e r ,

who i t was conceded was M r Lew is , was t a l k i n g on a mobi l e

t e l e p h o n e . He knocked on t h e d r i v e r ' s window, and s a i d

"A re you l o s t ? " He s a i d M r Lew is r e p l i e d "Why?", t o wh i ch

M r Wa lke r responded "Because you have been d r i v i n g a round

l o o k i n g and a few p e o p l e have n o t i c e d you and i t seemed t o

be a r a t h e r s u s p i c i o u s a c t i v i t y "

M r Wa lke r s a i d t h a t M r L e w i s r e p l i e d " I t ' s a l l r i g h t , I ' m a

F e d e r a l P o l i c e O f f i c e r and I ' m d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e " .

M r Wa lke r s a i d he asked Mr Lewi S f o r some i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ,

and was handed a " b l u e and w h i t e s t r i p e d l a m i n a t e d c a r d "

w h i c h he t o o k and examined. He s a i d M r L e w i s ' p h o t o g r a p h

was on t h e c a r d , and t h e words " A u s t r a l i a n F e d e r a l P o l i c e " ,

t o g e t h e r w i t h a " c u r r e n t d a t e " . M r Wa lke r s a i d t h e c a r d

" l o o k e d v e r y a u t h e n t i c " .

He s a i d h e handed t h e c a r d back t o Mr Lew is , and s a i d " I ' m

s o r r y . T h a t ' s okay , I ' m s o r r y " . He s a i d Mr L e w i s r e p l i e d

" I t ' s r e a l l y okay .	I t ' s r e a l l y a l l r i g h t ,	mate .	I t ' s a l l
r i g h t " .

M r Wa lke r s a i d t h a t Mr L e w i s made no m e n t i o n d u r i n g t h i s

c o n v e r s a t i o n abou t l o o k i n g o r w a i t i n g f o r h i s son .

A f t e r r e t u r n i n g t o h i s home, Mr Wa lke r s a i d he had a

d i s c u s s i o n w i t h Mrs K i n g , t h e mo the r o f h i s d a u g h t e r ' s

f r i e n d , Jemma, a t abou t 1640 h o u r s . Mrs K i n g t o l d h i m t h a t

she had o b s e r v e d t h e t w o g i r l s s t a n d i n g s t i l l o n t h e s i d e o f

t h e r o a d o p p o s i t e t o Mr L e w i s ' c a r .

M r Wa lke r s a i d h i s s u s p i c i o n s were a r o u s e d f o l l o w i n g t h i s

d i s c u s s i o n and " t h a t pe rhaps e v e r y t h i n g w a s n ' t as i t

6 .

appeared and I c o u l d n o t u n d e r s t a n d why an A u s t r a l i a n

F e d e r a l P o l i c e o f f i c e r w o u l d be d o i n g s u r v e i 11 ance. . . . .

w a t c h i n g b u s s t o p s i n o u r a r e a " .

Mr Walker s a i d t h a t , between 1630 and 1700 h o u r s , he made

some r o u g h n o t e s r e g a r d i n g what had o c c u r r e d . A p h o t o c o p y

o f t h e n o t e s was t e n d e r e d as E x h i b i t 3 . He s a i d t h a t he

had f o r g o t t e n t h e m e n t a l n o t e h e had made o f Mr L e w i s ' c a r ' s

r e g i s t r a t i o n , because he " f e l t s u r e he was an A u s t r a l i a n

F e d e r a l P o l i c e o f f i c e r ( a n d ) f e l t a t ease and c a l m about t h e

who le t h i n g , and ( t h e ) number s l i p p e d f r o m my m i n d " .

On h i s h a v i n g second t h o u g h t s a b o u t t h e m a t t e r , h e t r i e d t o

r e c o n s t r u c t t h e number i n h i s m ind . He r e c a l l e d t h a t t h e

number p l a t e had "ACT"	on i t , and someth ing l i k e "YZ763"	o r
"YZ0363".

I n c l u d e d i n t h e words w r i t t e n b y h i m i n t h e n o t e s was t h e

p a r a g r a p h : " I t h e n approached h i m t o e n q u i r e what was g o i n g

on . To t h i s he r e p l i e d ' I t ' s a l r i g h t - I ' m a F.P.O. d o i n g

s u r v e i l l a n c e .	I t	i s r e a l l y	a l r i g h t ' .	He	showed	me	h i s
I . D . " .

M r Wa lke r s a i d t h a t a t abou t 1655 o r 1705 h o u r s h e r a n g t h e

Wo l l ongong o r I l l a w a r r a o f f i c e o f t h e AFP and spoke t o L i n d a

Norman, a s t a f f member o f t h a t o r g a n i s a t i o n . He s a i d t h a t ,

as f a r as he c o u l d r e c a l l , h e " r e i t e r a t e d what e v e n t s had

happened as I ' v e e x p l a i n e d t o ( t h e T r i b u n a l ) t o - d a y and a l s o

i n q u i r e d whe the r t h e r e wou ld be due cause f o r a F e d e r a l

P o l i c e o f f i c e r t o be d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e work i n o u r a r e a " .

MS Norman r e t u r n e d h i s c a l l l a t e r and t o l d h i m t h a t " t h e r e

were no o f f i c e r s i n t h e a r e a o n s u r v e i l l a n c e " .

I n c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n b y Mr Cons tance , M r Wa lke r a g r e e d t h a t

he t o l d F e d e r a l Agen t Edwards t h a t he b e l i e v e d t h e

p h o t o g r a p h on t h e t h e c a r d shown t o h im by M r Lew is was

c o l o u r e d , c o n c e d i n g t h a t t h e p h o t o g r a p h was i n f a c t b l a c k

and w h i t e . i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d He a g r e e d b e f o r e . t h a t he had n e v e r seen an AFP

M r Wa lke r was p r e s s e d r e g a r d i n g h i s r e c o l l e c t i o n o f t h e

c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h M r Lewi S . Because t h i s a r e a o f t h e case

i s o f c r i t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e , I b e l i e v e i t i m p o r t a n t t o q u o t e

t h e r e l e v a n t a r e a s o f c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n .

M r Constance s u g g e s t e d t h a t M r Wal k e r ' S r e c o l 1 e c t i on was

f a u l t y , and t h e f o l l o w i n g exchange o c c u r r e d :

"I want t o s u g g e s t t o you t h a t when you spoke t o h im what he

s a i d was t h e s e words ' t h a t he was an employee w i t h t h e A F P ' .

I s t h a t p o s s i b l e ? - -- Yes .

Because ---?----Can I j u s t say i t ' s p o s s i b l e b u t I d o u b t i t .

But y o u ' r e n o t s u r e ? - - - I ' m n o t s u r e .

He c o u l d I n h i s c l o s i n g have s a i d t h a t ? - - - Y e s . "

a d d r e s s , Mr Cons tance q u i t e p r o p e r l y r e l i e d

on t h i s passage t o c a s t doub t o n hit- Wa1 k e r ' s e a r l i e r

e v i d e n c e about h i s a s s e r t i o n t h a t Mr Lew is had s a i d he was

an AFP o f f i c e r d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e .

However, f o l l o w i n g c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n and r e - e x a m i n a t i o n b y

M r Howe, I asked Mr Walker t o c l a r i f y t h e a p p a r e n t

d i s c r e p a n c i e s be tween h i s e v i dence - i n - c h i e f and t h e answers

q u o t e d . I n r e c o u n t i n g t h e f o r m e r , and what was p u t t o h i m

by M r Cons tance , I c o n c l u d e d b y s a y i n g " . . . t h e word

' emp loyee ' i s q u i t e d i f f e r e n t f r o m t h e words w h i c h you say

Mr Lew is s a i d t o you . Would you j u s t c l a r i f y t h a t , i f you

d o n ' t m ind?" , t o w h i c h M r Wa lker r e p l i e d "We1 1, my

r e c o l l e c t i o n w o u l d be t h a t he d e f i n i t e l y d i d n ' t say t h e word

' e m p l o y e e ' . I was u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h a t M r Cons tance was j u s t

mak ing an i n f e r e n c e t h a t he was w o r k i n g pe rhaps w i t h t h e

A u s t r a l i a n F e d e r a l P o l i c e o f f i c e , t h a t ' s what I was assuming

he was a l l u d i n g t o " .

I went t h e words o n t o ask " . . . b u t i s i t y o u r c l e a r r e c o l l e c t i o n t h a t

' I 'm.%Federa l P o l i c e o f f i c e r d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e '

were s a i d " , t o w h i c h he r e p l i e d " I ' m r e a s o n a b l y s u r e t h a t

t h e y	were	t h e words	' I ' m	a	F e d e r a l	P o l i c e o f f i c e r ' ,	and,
y e s " .

I t h e n asked "And ' d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e ' ? " t o w h i c h M r Wa lke r

r e p l i e d " D e f i n i t e l y " .

MS L i n d a Norman gave e v i d e n c e t h a t she was a s t a f f member o f

t h e AFP, employed p a r t - t i m e as an o r g a n i s a t i o n p s y c h o l o g i s t .

A t t h e t i m e o f g i v i n g e v i d e n c e , she had been so employed f o r

j u s t o v e r f i v e y e a r s . I n answer t o M r Howe, she s a i d she

w o u l d n o t e v e r d e s c r i b e h e r s e l f as a member o f t h e AFP.

On 3 1 s t J u l y 1996, MS Norman s a i d she was w o r k i n g f r o m h e r

home i n Wo l l ongong . The AFP o f f i c e i n t h a t a r e a was c l o s e d ,

and t e l e p h o n e c a l l s were d i v e r t e d t o h e r home.

A t abou t 1835 o r 1845 h o u r s on t h a t d a t e , she s a i d she

r e c e i v e d a t e l e p h o n e c a l l f r o m M r W a l k e r . She s a i d M r

Wa lker d e s c r i b e d t h e i n c i d e n t i n v o l v i n g M r Lewi s e a r l i e r

t h a t day . She s a i d he t o l d h e r t h a t when he f i r s t

approached M r Lew is , t h e l a t t e r s a i d " I ' m w i t h t h e AFP", and

t h e n showed M r Wa lker a b l u e p l a s t i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d .

She s a i d M r Walker t o l d her t h a t t h e d r i v e r d i d g i v e h i s

name, b u t he c o u l d n o t r e c a l l what i t was, be1 i e v i n g i t was

something 1 i ke "Hol l i S " .

When asked by M r Howe whether t h e r e was any re fe rence t o

" s u r v e i l l a n c e " , MS Norman rep1 i e d " I was under t h e

impress ion t h a t t h e c a r was on - t h e person i n t h e c a r was

on su rve i l l a n c e . I ' m n o t a b s o l u t e l y c l e a r t h a t my

conve rsa t i on w i t h him ment ioned t h e word su rve i l lance

a l though I was under t h e impress ion t h a t t h e person i n t h e

c a r was an AFP o f f i c e r , o r had s a i d he was an AFP o f f i c e r on

AFP business, and I b e l i e v e d i t was s u r v e i l l a n c e " .

MS Norman s a i d t h a t when M r Walker t o l d her t h a t t h e d r i v e r

had produced a b l u e p l a s t i c i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ca rd , t h a t , t o

he r , " immed ia te ly r e f l e c t e d a s t a f f member's c a r d . A p o l i c e

o f f i c e r o r a person who s a i d t h a t t hey were a p o l i c e o f f i c e r

would have had a p o l i c e	badge.	T h a t ' s q u i t e c l e a r .	T h a t ' s
what they use" .

MS Norman went on t o say " . . . a n d i t was t h e n t h a t t h e a la rm

b e l l s s t a r t e d t o r i n g w i t h me and I was concerned because he

was a person who p o s s i b l y w a s n ' t a sworn o f f i c e r hanging

around c h i l d r e n and I f e l t t h a t t h e r e was a p o s s i b l y a

p o t e n t i a l f o r danger f o r c h i l d r e n " .

She s a i d te lephoned a f r i e n d who was a sworn member, t h a t , r a t h e r t han w a i t u n t i l t h e n e x t morning, she

and was adv ised

t o check whether t h e c a r was i n f a c t on s u r v e i l l a n c e g i v e n

i t had ACT p l a t e s . She t hen te lephoned t h e ACT r e g i o n o f

t h e AFP, and was t o l d t h a t t h e r e was no c a r i n t h a t area

c a r r y i n g o u t s u r v e i l l a n c e . The r e g i s t r a t i o n number which

she had was no t c e r t a i n , and d i d no t f i t t h e d e s c r i p t i o n o f

t h e c a r which M r Walker had passed t o h e r , wh ich was a

" cha rcoa l g rey , b l a c k l a t e model Ford (Commodore)".

Because o f t h e u n c e r t a i n t y r ega rd ing t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n

number, MS Norman s a i d she dec ided t o c a l l t h e I n t e r n a l

I n v e s t i g a t i o n D i v i s i o n t h e f o l l o w i n g morn iny .

She s a i d she made no tes f o l l o w i n g t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h M r

Walker, and a photocopy became E x h i b i t 5 .

When asked by M r Howe whether t h e i s sue o f s u r v e i l l a n c e was

r a i s e d by M r Walker, o r by h e r , MS Norman r e p l i e d " I t h i n k

M r Walker d i d , b u t i t i s an impress ion" .

When asked "Would you have had any reason t o cons ide r t h e

p o s s i b i l i t y o f s u r v e i l l a n c e , a p a r t from any r e f e r e n c e M r

Walker made t o t h a t t o p i c ? " she r e p l i e d "No, t h a t ' s no t a

word I use ve ry o f t e n " .

Du r i ng cross-examinat ion by M r Constance, MS Norman s a i d i t

would n o t be normal t o c a l l a s t a f f member an " o f f i c e r " .

She agreed t h a t , w h i l e she would n o t desc r i be h e r s e l f as a

"member" o f t h e AFP, she would have no d i f f i c u l t y i n

c a l l i n g h e r s e l f an "employee".

As t o use o f t h e word " s u r v e i l l a n c e " , she s a i d t h a t she was

under t h e impress ion t h a t t h e person i n t h e c a r was on

s u r v e i l l a n c e , and t h a t t h i s was gained f rom " t h e

c o n v e r s a t i o n t h a t (Mr Walker) had w i t h t h e d r i v e r " .

When ques t ioned by me as t o whether she had used t h e word

" s u r v e i l l a n c e " , MS Norman s a i d "No, I d i d n ' t use t h e word

' s u r v e i l l a n c e ' . I w o u l d n ' t have i n t r o d u c e d . . . "

I t h e n asked "No, i t i s n o t a wo rd you use?" t o w h i c h she

r e p l i e d "No, I w o u l d n ' t have i n t r o d u c e d t h e word

' s u r v e i l l a n c e ' i n t o t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n " . When I t h e n s a i d

"So i t must have come f r o m M r W a l k e r " , she s a i d " I t h i n k

SO"	.
MS	Norman, d u r i n g f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n i n g by me, s a i d ' l . . . t h e

c o n v e r s a t i o n Mr Wa lke r had w i t h t h e d r i v e r , i n my mind , i t

was	c l e a r	t h a t t h e d r i v e r was	on	o f f i c i a l	b u s i n e s s w i t h t h e
AFP" .

When she was asked " M r W a l k e r ' s e v i d e n c e was t h a t he was

t o l d by Mr L e w i s t h a t he, M r Lew is , was an AFP - c o r r e c t i o n ,

a F e d e r a l P o l i c e O f f i c e r d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e , unquo te . Was

t h a t e v e r s a i d t o you?" she r e p l i e d "It c o u l d have been" .

Ev idence was t h e n l e d b y M r Howe f r o m M r P. H a r r i s i n

r e l a t i o n t o t h e second cha rge , t o w h i c h I w i l l r e t u r n l a t e r .

A t t h e c l o s e o f t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s case , Mr Constance c a l l e d

M r Lew is , h i s s o l e w i t n e s s .

As t o t h e e v e n t s a t Kiama on 3 1 s t J u l y 1996, M r L e w i s s a i d

t h a t when Mr Wa lke r approached h i s c a r , he s a i d some th ing

l i k e "Can I h e l p you , a r e you l o s t ? " . Mr L e w i s s a i d he

responded w i t h "No, I ' m j u s t h e r e t o p i c k up my son" . He

t h o u g h t he may have added someth ing l i k e "he 1 i v e s i n

K i ama" .

M r Lewis s a i d t h a t M r Wa lke r t h e n f o l l o w e d on a f t e r a s h o r t

b r e a k , w i t h "Look, we1 l, y o u ' v e been seen a c t i n g

s u s p i c i o u s 1 y a r o u n d c h i l d r e n i n t h e a r e a " . M r Lew is s a i d

he t h o u g h t	"Oh,	j e e z ,	I	can see what	he i s p r o b a b l y coming
f r o m " .

He went on t o say "So I s a i d , t o a l l a y h i s f e a r s - I s a i d

' L o o k , I am ( a n ) employee o f t h e AFP' , and t h e n I t h i n k I

p r o d u c e d - t o show who I was - t h e bona f i d e s o f m y s e l f . I

a c t i v e l y handed my p l a s t i c c a r d t o M r Wa lke r " .

A c a r d have been s a i d t o b e i d e n t i c a l w i t h t h e one t h e n a l l e g e d t o

shown t o M r Wa lke r was t e n d e r e d as E x h i b i t 4 .

Mr L e w i s s a i d t h a t Mr Wa lke r " i n t e n t l y examined t h e c a r d

b o t h s i d e s " and t h e n t h e r e was f u r t h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n a l o n g

t h e l i n e s o f " s o r r y t o b o t h e r you o r s o m e t h i n g " . He went

on t o say t h a t Mr Wa lke r gave t h e c a r d back t o h im, and t h a t

" i t seemed t o have s a t i s f i e d h i m who I was and I was i n d e e d

t h e r e j u s t t r y i n g t o p i c k up my son " .

I n response t o q u e s t i o n s f r o m Mr Constance, M r L e w i s s a i d he

was aware o f t h e s e r i o u s consequences o f a t t e m p t i n g t o

i m p e r s o n a t e a sworn P o l i c e o f f i c e r , and t h a t i t c o u l d "end

y o u r c a r e e r , y o u r l i f e , e t c e t e r a , t h e w o r k s . Y o u ' d be

p r o s e c u t e d b a s i c a l l y and u n d e r s t a t u t e " .

He d e n i e d e m p h a t i c a l l y Mr W a l k e r ' s a1 l e g a t i o n t h a t he had

s a i d he was a " F e d e r a l P o l i c e o f f i c e r ( a n d was) d o i n g

s u r v e i l l a n c e " . He i n s i s t e d t h a t he had s a i d o n l y t h a t h e

was an "employee o f t h e AFP o r w i t h t h e A u s t r a l i a n F e d e r a l

P o l i c e " . He a g r e e d t h a t he had s a i d , i n t h e r e c o r d o f

c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h F e d e r a l Agent Edwards on 1 2 t h September

1996 t h a t he had t o l d Mr Wa lke r " . . I was an o f f i c e r o f t h e

AFP o n l y f o r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n p u r p o s e s " .

I n response t o M r C o n s t a n c e ' s q u e s t i o n s , M r L e w i s s a i d t h a t

t h a t s t a t e m e n t was i n c o r r e c t . He s a i d t h a t b y " o f f i c e r "

what h e meant was "employee o f t h e AFP because t h e r e was

some r e f e r e n c e s abou t o f f i c e r s o f t h e AFP l o o s e l y b e i n g

t a l k e d abou t i n - a r o u n d t h a t t i m e and I d i d i t i n a g e n e r a l

sense b u t i t was r e a l l y meant as an employee o f t h e AFP".

I n c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n b y M r Howe, M r Lew is s a i d t h a t he was

" c a t e g o r i c a l l y " s u r e t h a t he had t o l d M r Wa lke r t h a t he was

t h e r e t o p i c k up h i s son .

As t o t h e response g i v e n by h im , r e f e r r e d t o above , i n t h e

r e c o r d o f c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h F e d e r a l Agent Edwards, he t o l d

M r Howe t h a t t h e r e f e r e n c e t o b e i n g "an o f f i c e r o f t h e AFP"

was a " s l i p o f t h e t o n g u e " . He ag reed t h a t h i s response

t o a f u r t h e r q u e s t i o n as t o whe the r he had d e s c r i b e d h i m s e l f

as "an H i s response was o f f i c e r o f t h e AFP" was a l s o " a s l i p o f t h e t o n g u e " .

' l . . . a member o r o f f i c e r o f t h e AFP, member

o r s t a f f member - w e ' r e a l l members o f t h e AFP. M y ma in - I

c a n ' t q u i t e remember e x a c t l y t h e t e r m i n o l o g y . I s a i d

' H e r e ' s t o v a l i d a t e my i d e n t i f i c a t i o n ' . . . . . "

Mr L e w i s i n s i s t e d t h a t he had t o l d M r Wa lker t h a t he was an

"employee o f t h e AFP".

Mr Howe p u t t o h i m t h a t h i s e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e T r i b u n a l was

p r e c i s e as t o t h e use by h im o f t h e t e r m "employee o f t h e

AFP", y e t d u r i n g t h e r e c o r d o f c o n v e r s a t i o n he had t o l d

F e d e r a l Agent Edwards t h a t , when he p r o d u c e d h i s

i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d , he had s a i d " I ' m w i t h t h e - I ' m an

employee - I ' m w i t h t h e - I ' m employed by t h e AFP". He

ag reed t h a t t h a t passage r e f l e c t e d " a degree o f c o n f u s i o n

and l a c k o f r e c o l l e c t i o n on ( h i s ) p a r t as t o t h e p r e c i s e

words" used .

I n h i s c l o s i n g s u b m i s s i o n s , M r Howe s a i d t h a t M r Wa lke r

s h o u l d be b e l i e v e d as t o h i s v e r s i o n o f what was s a i d . H i s

o n l y m i s t a k e was i n r e l a t i o n t o t h e c o l o u r o f t h e p h o t o g r a p h

on t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d . He was p r e c i s e i n a1 l o t h e r

d e t a i l s , and made a n o t e o f h i s o b s e r v a t i o n s s h o r t l y a f t e r

t h e e v e n t . He was s u f f i c i e n t l y d i s t u r b e d b y what had

o c c u r r e d t o go t o t h e t r o u b l e o f c o n t a c t i n g t h e AFP t o have

t h e m a t t e r c h e c k e d o u t .

One s i g n i f i c a n t p a r t o f t h e e v i d e n c e was t h e u s e o f t h e t e r m

" s u r v e i l l a n c e " . I f i t was a c c e p t e d t h a t Mr Lew is had used

t h a t t e r m i n h i s c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h Mr Wa lke r , i t was more

t h a n l i k e l y t h a t he had a l s o s a i d he was a " F e d e r a l P o l i c e

O f f i c e r " , because i t w o u l d make no sense f o r a s t a f f member

t o b e c a r r y i n g o u t s u r v e i l l a n c e .

M r Howe s u b m i t t e d t h a t M r Lew is was unde r " a c u t e p r e s s u r e " ,

and had a s t r o n g m o t i v e t o e x p l a i n h i s a c t i o n s t o M r Wa lke r

r e g a r d i n g t h e s c h o o l c h i l d r e n . By c l a i m i n g t h a t he was a

F e d e r a l P o l i c e O f f i c e r on s u r v e i l l a n c e h e d i d " so as t o

c l o a k h i s a c t i o n s w i t h t h e l e g i t i m a c y he was conce rned t o

i m p r e s s upon Mr Wa lke r " ( t h e t r a n s c r i p t r e c o r d s "Mr Lewi S "

a t t h a t p o i n t ( p . 7 4 ) ) .

Mr Cons tance s u b m i t t e d t h a t , a l t h o u g h M r Wa lker had

examined t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d , he had m i s t a k e n l y b e l i e v e d

t h a t t h e p h o t o g r a p h t h e r e o n was c o l o u r e d , whereas i t was

b l a c k and w h i t e .

Hav ing s a t i s f i e d h i m s e l f t h a t t h e p h o t o g r a p h matched M r

Lew is , and o b s e r v e d t h e AFP i n s c r i p t i o n on t h e c a r d , M r

Wa lker had , i n M r C o n s t a n c e ' s s u b m i s s i o n , reached t h e v i e w

t h a t M r Lewis was a P o l i c e o f f i c e r , and, as w i t h t h e c o l o u r

o f t h e p h o t o g r a p h , was m i s t a k e n i n t h a t b e l i e f .

H i s c l i e n t had v e h e m e n t l y d e n i e d h a v i n g t o l d M r Wa lker t h a t

he was a F e d e r a l P o l i c e o f f i c e r d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e .

He was e q u a l l y adamant t h a t h e had t o l d Mr Wa lke r t h a t he

was w a i t i n g f o r h i s son ,	and t h a t he was	an "employee o f t h e
AFP" .

M r Constance conceded t h a t t h e r e was some u n c e r t a i n t y

d i s p l a y e d d u r i n g t h e r e c o r d o f c o n v e r s a t i o n , as r e 1 a t e d

above. However, t h i s o c c u r r e d d u r i n g a t w o - h o u r i n t e r v i e w ,

and had t o be seen i n c o n t e x t . He ag reed t h a t M r Lewis had

" s t u m b l e d o v e r i t " , i . e . , as t o what he had s a i d as t o

b e i n g "an employee" .

As t o MS r e c o l l e c t i o n was Norman ' s e v i d e n c e , Mr Cons tance s a i d t h a t h e r

t h a t M r Wa lke r t o l d h e r t h a t " t h e d r i v e r ,

on b e i n g q u e s t i o n e d , s a i d he was w i t h t h e AFP".

I n h i s s u b m i s s i o n , t h e m e n t i o n o f t h e word " s u r v e i l l a n c e " i n

-:hat c o n t e x t , i n h e r n o t e ( E x h i b i t 5 ) w o u l d have been

expec ted , had i t been used b y M r W a l k e r . MS Norman had

" . . . q u i t e u n s a t i s f a c t o r i l y , t r i e d t o g i l d t h e l i l l y a l i t t l e

b i t abou t t h i s i s s u e o f s u r v e i l l a n c e and she came up w i t h

t h i s i d e a , w e l l i t was h e r i m p r e s s i o n " .

M r Constance r e f e r r e d t o M r W a l k e r ' s c o n c e s s i o n , d u r i n g

c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n , r e g a r d i n g t h e p o s s i b i 1 i t y o f M r L e w i s

h a v i n g s a i d he was an "employee o f t h e AFP" , s u b m i t t i n g t h a t

t h i s must r a i s e some d o u b t abou t h i s e a r l i e r e v i d e n c e .

F i n a l l y , M r Cons tance s u b m i t t e d t h a t a man o f h i s c l i e n t ' s

e x p e r i e n c e o f some 1 4 y e a r s w i t h t h e AFP, was w e l l aware o f

t h e s e r i o u s n e s s o f p a s s i n g h i m s e l f o f f as a sworn o f f i c e r ,

and t h a t , i f c o n v i c t e d o f such a m a t t e r , he c o u l d see h i s

c a r e e r t e r m i n a t e d . I t wou ld be q u i t e i r r a t i o n a l , i n Mr

C o n s t a n c e ' s s u b m i s s i o n , f o r a p e r s o n i n h i s c l i e n t ' s

p o s i t i o n t o a c t i n t h e manner a l l e g e d .

The re was a n o t h e r a r e a o f e v i d e n c e r e g a r d i n g t h e a l l e g e d

p r o d u c t i o n by M r Lewi S o f h i s i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d when

p u l l e d o v e r f o r s p e e d i n g some two and a h a l f y e a r s

p r e v i o u s l y , i n r e s p e c t o f wh i ch he was c ross -examined by M r

Howe, and t o w h i c h M r Howe r e f e r r e d i n h i s s u b m i s s i o n s . I

do n o t , d e t e r m i n i n g however, be1 i e v e t h a t t h a t e v i d e n c e i s r e l e v a n t i n

t h e i s s u e s i n t h i s c h a r g e .

The onus o f p r o o f i s b o r n e by t h e Commiss ioner , and i t i s

t h e c i v i l onus o f p r o o f on t h e b a l a n c e o f p r o b a b i l i t i e s ,

i . e . , i f t h e T r i b u n a l i s s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s

case i s more p r o b a b l e t h a n t h a t o f M r Lew is , t h e c h a r g e

succeeds . On t h e o t h e r hand, i f M r L e w i s ' case i s t h e more

p r o b a b l e , t h e c h a r g e f a i l s . The t h i r d p r o p o s i t i o n i s t h a t

i f t h e T r i b u n a l f i n d s t h e p r o b a b i l i t i e s e v e n l y b a l a n c e d , t h e

c h a r g e a l s o f a i 1 s .

The i s s u e o f c r e d i b i l i t y i s o b v i o u s l y o f c r i t i c a l i m p o r t a n c e

i n t h i s case .

I t was n o t sugges ted b y M r Constance t h a t M r Wa lke r was

l y i n g abou t what had o c c u r r e d , b u t t h a t he was m i s t a k e n , and

t h a t M r Lewis s h o u l d b e b e l i e v e d .

I t i s o b v i o u s t h a t t h e r e i s l i t t l e room f o r common ground

r e g a r d i n g t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n wh i ch i s c e n t r a l t o t h i s c a s e .

I f M r Lew is used t h e words a l l e g e d by Mr W a l k e r , i . e . , " I t ' s

a l l r i g h t , I ' m a F e d e r a l P o l i c e O f f i c e r and I ' m d o i n g

s u r v e i l l a n c e " , t h e c h a r g e i s made o u t . E q u a l l y , i f M r

L e w i s ' e v i d e n c e t h a t he s a i d he was an "employee o f t h e AFP"

and a l s o s a i d he was t h e r e t o p i c k up h i s son i s a c c ~ p t e d ,

t h e c h a r g e i s n o t made o u t .

I r e f e r r e d e a r l i e r t o M r C o n s t a n c e ' s c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n o f Mr

Wa lke r , i n w h i c h , when asked i f M r L e w i s s a i d he was "an

employee o f t h e AFP", M r Wa lker s a i d " . . i t ' s p o s s i b l e b u t I

doub t i t " , and where he a g r e e d w i t h M r Cons tance t h a t Mr

Lew is c o u l d have s a i d t h a t .

T h a t e v i d e n c e must b e e v a l u a t e d i n l i g h t o f what M r Wa lker

s u b s e q u e n t l y s a i d , i n answer t o my q u e s t i o n s . Then, he

s a i d t h a t Mr L e w i s " . . . d e f i n i t e l y d i d n ' t say t h e word

' emp loyee" ' . He s a i d he was " r e a s o n a b l y s u r e " t h a t M r

Lew is s a i d " I ' m a F e d e r a l P o l i c e O f f i c e r " . As t o whe the r

M r Lew is c o n t i n u e d w i t h "and d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e " , M r Wa lker

r e p 1 i e d " d e f i n i t e l y " .

I t i s c o r r e c t t o s t a t e , as Mr Cons tance d i d , t h a t MS

Norman 's r e c o l l e c t i o n o f M r W a l k e r ' s d i s c u s s i o n w i t h h e r was

t o t h e e f f e c t t h a t t h e d r i v e r o f t h e c a r (Mr L e w i s ) had t o l d

h im he was " w i t h t h e AFP".

As t o t h e use o f t h e t e r m " s u r v e i l l a n c e " , Mr W a l k e r ' s

e v i d e n c e (page 11, t r a n s c r i p t ) was t h a t , i n a d d i t i o n t o

r e l a t i n g t o MS Norman what he l a t e r t o l d t h e T r i b u n a l , he

had " a l s o i n q u i r e d whe the r t h e r e w o u l d be due cause f o r a

F e d e r a l	P o l i c e o f f i c e r t o be	d o i n g	s u r v e i l l a n c e	work	i n o u r
a r e a " .

MS Norman was u n s u r e , d u r i n g e v i d e n c e - i n - c h i e f , whe the r t h e

wo rd " s u r v e i l l a n c e " had been used d u r i n g t h e c o n v e r s a t i o n

w i t h M r W a l k e r , b u t s a i d t h a t i t was h e r i m p r e s s i o n t h a t i t

had. Her n o t e s ( E x h i b i t 5 ) r e f e r t o " s u r v e i l l a n c e

l i s t i n g s " and a t e l e p h o n e number, and she d i d i n f a c t make a

t e l e p h o n e c a l l t o a s c e r t a i n w h e t h e r an AFP v e h i c l e had been

engaged o n s u r v e i l l a n c e i n t h e Wol longong a r e a .

I n a d d i t i o n , i n a n s w e r i n g my q u e s t i o n as t o w h e t h e r t h e wo rd

had been used b y h e r , she s a i d ( p . 3 2 , t r a n s c r i p t ) "No, I

w o u l d n ' t have i n t r o d u c e d t h e word ' s u r v e i l l a n c e ' i n t o t h e

c o n v e r s a t i o n " . When I t h e n i n q u i r e d "So i t must have come

f r o m Mr Wa lke r? " she r e p l i e d "I t h i n k s o " .

On b e i n g asked w h e t h e r M r Wa lke r c o u l d have t o l d h e r t h a t Mr

Lewi s had s a i d he was a " F e d e r a l P o l i c e o f f i c e r d o i n g

s u r v e i l l a n c e " ,	MS	Norman	a g r e e d	t h a t	" i t	c o u l d	have	been
( s a i d ) " .

I n d e c i d i n g where t h e p r o b a b i l i t i e s l i e i n t h i s i s s u e , t h e

f o l l o w i n g f a c t o r s a r e i m p o r t a n t :

1 . Mr W a l k e r ' s n o t a t i o n o n E x h i b i t 3 t h a t t h e words

used were : " i t ' s a l r i g h t . I ' m a F .P .O. d o i n g

s u r v e i l l a n c e . I t ' s r e a l l y a l r i g h t " .

2 . M r W a l k e r ' s r e p o r t t o MS Norman, i n w h i c h t h e

p r o b a b i l i t i e s f a v o u r t h e p r o p o s i t i o n t h a t h e used

t h e word " s u r v e i l l a n c e " .

3 . MS Norman 's a c t i o n f o l l o w i n g h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h

M r W a l k e r , when she made i n q u i r i e s as t o whether

an AFP v e h i c l e was on s u r v e i l l a n c e i n t h e a r e a .

4 . MS Norman 's e v i d e n c e , q u o t e d above, d u r i n g wh ich

she ag reed t h a t she had n o t i n t r o d u c e d t h e word

" s u r v e i l l a n c e " i n t o h e r c o n v e r s a t i o n w i t h M r

W a l k e r , and t h a t she t h o u g h t he must have done so .

O n t h a t e v i d e n c e , I am s a t i s f i e d t h a t M r W a l k e r ' s e v i d e n c e

has been c o r r o b o r a t e d t o t h e e x t e n t t h a t i t i s more p r o b a b l e

t h a n n o t	t h a t	h i s v e r s i o n o f t h e d i s c u s s i o n	w i t h M r	Lewis	i s
c o r r e c t .

I n a d d i t i o n , M r L e w i s ' a s s e r t i o n t h a t he had s a i d he was

w a i t i n g f o r h i s son was r e j e c t e d b y M r Wa lke r , who d e n i e d

t h a t a n y t h i n g was s a i d abou t h i s son .

F i n a l l y , t h e c o n f u s i o n r e f l e c t e d i n t h e r e c o r d o f

c o n v e r s a t i o n as t o whether M r L e w i s had used t h e t e r m

" o f f i c e r " , r a t h e r t h a n "employee" t h r o w s some d o u b t on t h e

p r e c i s e e v i d e n c e g i v e n by h i m b e f o r e t h e T r i b u n a l .

I f t h e e v i d e n c e had been l e f t where i t s t o o d f o l l o w i n g M r

C o n s t a n c e ' s c ross-exami n a t i o n o f M r Wa1 k e r , i n w h i c h he

appeared t o r e s i l e somewhat f r o m h i s e a r l i e r e v i d e n c e as t o

what was s a i d , I wou ld f i n d t h a t t h e p r o b a b i l i t i e s were

even1 y b a l a n c e d .

However, because o f t h e f a c t o r s l i s t e d above, I have reached

t h e	v i e w	t h a t	t h e	p r o b a b i l i t i e s	f a v o u r	t h e	Commiss ione r ' s
case .

There i s no d o u b t i n my mind t h a t M r Lew is was under s t r e s s

r e g a r d i n g t h e F a m i l y C o u r t p r o c e e d i n g s , and h i s d e s i r e t o

see h i s son i s p e r f e c t l y u n d e r s t a n d a b l e . However, i t i s

c l e a r t o me t h a t he was a c u t e l y aware o f t h e i m p r e s s i o n t h a t

h i s b e h a v i o u r i n o b s e r v i n g t h e schoo l c h i l d r e n must have

c r e a t e d i n M r W a l k e r ' s m ind , and I b e l i e v e t h a t , as h e s a i d

h i m s e l f i n e v i d e n c e , he wanted t o " a l l a y h i s f e a r s " .

I t seems t o me t h a t M r Lew is , unde r p r e s s u r e , u n w i s e l y

d e c i d e d t h a t t h e b e s t way t o e f f e c t t h a t o b j e c t i v e was t o

a t t e m p t t o r e a s s u r e M r Wa lke r by t e l l i n g h i m t h a t he was a

F e d e r a l P01 i c e o f f i c e r d o i n g s u r v e i l l a n c e , and t h a t t h i s

wou ld b e t h e s i m p l e s t way o f d i v e r t i n g s u s p i c i o n .

I s h o u l d m e n t i o n Mr C o n s t a n c e ' s s u b m i s s i o n t h a t t h e c o n t e n t s

o f t h e i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d s h o u l d have b e l n s u f f i c i e n t t o

e s t a b l i s h t o Mr Walker t h a t t h e b e a r e r was n o t a sworn

member, b u t a s t a f f member. G i ven t h e s i t u a t i o n , t h a t Mr

Walker was a l a y p e r s o n , unused t o AFP i d e n t i f i c a t i o n c a r d s ,

and h a v i n g no p r i o r e x p e r i e n c e w i t h AFP p e r s o n n e l i n t h e

community i n w h i c h h e l i v e d , no w e i g h t c o u l d r ~ a l l y g i v e n t o

h i s f a i l u r e t o d e t e c t t h e d i f f e y e n c e .

Indeed, I w o u l d e x p e c t t h a t i t w o u l d n o t be a m a t t e r o f

common knowledge among l a y pe rsons i n t h e communi ty a t

l a r g e , t h a t t h e r e was a d i f f e r e n c e between sworn and s t a f f

members o f t h e AFP.

I t f o l l o w s t h a t I f i n d t h e f i r s t c h a r g e made o u t .

T u r n i n g now t o t h e second cha rge , i . e . , t h a t M r L e w i s was

absent f r o m h i s d u t y w i t h o u t p e r m i s s i o n o r a u t h o r i t y between

t h e h o u r s o f abou t 1230 h o u r s t o 1710 h o u r s on 3 1 s t J u l y ,

1996, i t was n o t i n d i s p u t e t h a t Mr L e w i s was absen t f r o m

h i s d u t y d u r i n g t h a t p e r i o d .

M r L e w i s ' d e f e n c e was t h a t i t was commonly a c c e p t e d t h a t

some f l e x i b i l i t y was p e r m i t t e d among s t a f f i n h i s a r e a

r e g a r d i n g t a k i n g s h o r t p e r i o d s o f l e a v e .

The C o m m i s s i o n e r ' s case i n r e l a t i o n t o t h i S c h a r g e was l e d

t h r o u g h Mr P . R . H a r r i s , an AFP s t a f f member, and A c t i n g Co-

o r d i n a t o r , L o g i s t i c s . He s a i d t h a t i n J u l y 1996 he

o c c u p i e d t h e same p o s i t i o n , a t A c t i n g L e v e l 4 .

He s a i d t h a t he and M r L e w i s were on t h e same l e v e l , and

t h a t M r A . H o i t i n k was M r L e w i s ' s u p e r v i s o r . He and M r

H o i t i n k were l o c a t e d a t AFP H e a d q u a r t e r s .

So f a r as L e v e l 4 p e r s o n n e l t a k i n g t i m e o f f , i t was M r

H a r r i s ' e v i d e n c e t h a t t h e member 's s u p e r v i s o r had t o b e

i n f o r m e d i n advance, t h a t t h e absence had t o be approved b y

such	s u p e r v i s o r ,	and	t h e	a p p r o v a l	r e c o r d e d	on	t h e	w e e k l y
t i m e	s h e e t .

He s a i d t h a t , i n h i s own case , he "wou ld have t o seek

a p p r o v a l f r o m h i s s u p e r v i s o r , i n f o r m h im t h a t I was t a k i n g

t i m e o f f and s u b m i t a l e a v e f o r m " .

Mr H a r r i s s a i d t h a t , a f t e r b e i n g i n f o r m e d t h a t he was

r e q u i r e d t o g i v e e v i d e n c e b e f o r e t h e T r i b u n a l , he spoke b y

phone t o M r L e w i s and t o l d h i m he had been asked " t o g i v e

e v i d e n c e i n r e l a t i o n t o any i n f o r m a l a r rangement he may have

had w i t h me as r e g a r d s t a k i n g t i m e o f f and t h e n mak ing i t up

a t a l a t e r s t a g e , and I t o l d h i m my e v i d e n c e w o u l d be t h a t

we d i d n o t have such an i n f o r m a l a r rangement and t h a t ' s t h e

e v i d e n c e I w o u l d be g i v i n g " .

He s a i d he was unaware o f any i n f o r m a l a r rangement i n t h e

A r c h i v e s S e c t i o n r e g a r d i n g s t a f f t a k i n g t i m e o f f and t h e n

s i m p l y mak ing i t up l a t e r , w i t h o u t r e c o r d i n g t h e m a t t e r .

M r L e w i s s a i d i n e v i d e n c e t h a t h e had i n s t i t u t e d an i n f o r m a l

a r rangement w i t h h i s s t a f f a t t h e A r c h i v e s O f f i c e , on " t h e

honour sys tem" , whereby , i f t h e y needed t o t a k e t i m e o f f ,

t h e y made i t up l a t e r , w i t h o u t a n n o t a t i o n s b e i n g made t o t h e

w o r k s h e e t s .

He s a i d t h a t , a f t e r r e t u r n i n g f r o m Kiama, he r e t u r n e d t o t h e

A r c h i v e s O f f i c e and worked f rom a b o u t 1925 h o u r s t o abou t

2026 h o u r s . He s a i d t h a t he f r e q u e n t l y worked o v e r t i m e

w i t h o u t c l a i m i ng f o r i t .

I n c r o s s - e x a m i n a t i o n , M r Lewi S s a i d t h a t "To t h e b e s t o f my

a b i l i t y and r e c o l l e c t i o n I a l s o n o t i f y my s t a f f b o t h upwards

o r down - s t a f f and my O I C i n c l u d i n g M r H o i t i n k whe the r he

was t h e r e o r n o t o r was l e f t a message. I t ' s more my normal

p r a c t i c e . I c a n ' t b e a hund red p e r c e n t s u r e b u t i t w c u l d

n o r m a l l y - I w o u l d have done t h a t " . He a g r e e d t h a t he had

p r e v i o u s l y i n f o r m e d h i s s u p e r v i s o r s o f p roposed absences .

When asked, s p e c i f i c a l l y , i f he had n o t i f i e d h i s s u p e r v i s o r ,

M r H o i t i n k , on 3 1 s t J u l y 1996, o f h i s p roposed absence f r o m

d u t y , M r L e w i s s a i d "To t h e b e s t o f my a b i l i t y I a d v i s e d h i m

-- t h a t ' s a1 l M r H o i t i n k was I c a n s a y " .

n o t c a l l e d t o g i v e e v i d e n c e .

I t seems t o me, on Mr H a r r i s ' e v i d e n c e , t h a t t h e c o u r s e

adop ted b y Mr L e w i s i n a b s e n t i n g h i m s e l f f rom d u t y on t h e

o c c a s i o n i n q u e s t i o n was n o t a u t h o r i s e d i n acco rdance w i t h

t h e sys tem i n o p e r a t i o n a t t h e r e l e v a n t t i m e .

I t h e r e f o r e f i n d , on t h e b a l a n c e o f p r o b a b i l i t i e s , t h a t t h e

second c h a r g e i s made o u t .