Heath Aston
Political reporter
27 May 2012
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| Premier, Barry O'Farrell |
The Premier is understood to be concerned at why a report into Strike Force Emblems has remained buried since 2004 despite renewed calls for its release by honest officers who were targeted for surveillance.
Emblems investigated a secret operation in which a former corrupt policeman, codenamed M5, used a listening device to gather evidence against colleagues in 2000.
There was fury when it later emerged in unrelated court cases that M5's targets spanned all levels of the force, including officers with impeccable records.
Nick Kaldas - a deputy commissioner - Bob Inkster, then commander of Taskforce Gain, Mike Hagan, Brian Harding and Dennis Gilligan, now a lawyer, were among those approved for bugging. A lawyer and journalist, Steve Barrett, were also on the list.
A source said Mr O'Farrell was ''very concerned'' about the bugging claims and ''may try to give the matter a more extensive airing''. It is believed that would take the form of a special commission of inquiry.
Mr Harding, who left the force in 1996 as a detective superintendent, and at least five other former police are seeking legal advice about a potential class action to force answers on Emblems.
