Australian federal police lawyer sues agency over allegations she bullied colleagues
|
Version 0 of 1. A senior Australian federal police lawyer has launched legal action against the law enforcement agency over the findings of an internal investigation that alleged she bullied and harassed colleagues over a period of three years. Penelope Kelton, the deputy counsel of the New South Wales proceeds of crime litigation team, has challenged findings in an AFP adjudication report and professional standards report (PRS) that she seriously breached the AFP code of conduct by allegedly engaging in bullying and harassment towards current and former AFP officers between 2012 and 2015. Kelton has alleged that the AFP’s internal investigations were flawed and failed to give her an opportunity to respond. A copy of her amended statement of claim filed in the federal court seen by Guardian Australia stated that she was refused access to an unredacted copy of a professional standards unit investigation report and a transcript of an interview. The statement of claim states seeks to challenge the finding that she “seriously breached” the code when she allegedly “engaged in ‘bullying and harassment’ towards current and former AFP employees, whilst those employees were working in the proceeds of crime litigation team”. Kelton’s lawyers have argued that the professional standards report and adjudication both relied on statements by interviewees that “were general and vague in nature, other than with respect to a very few isolated incidents”. They said they “predominantly focused on the subject views and opinions of persons whose identity was redacted”. The case is currently in mediation. A spokesman for the AFP said: “It would not be appropriate for the AFP to comment on the matter as it is currently listed for dispute resolution.” Kelton’s lawyer declined to respond to questions about the case. The matter is set to be heard in the federal court for a directions hearings in March. Contact Paul Farrell securely using the Signal messaging app on +61 457 262 172 or using the Guardian’s Securedrop server |