VIC VICPOL's obligation to assist in correctly identifying the rank of a police officer

[Gene]

A Victorian police officer supplies an individual or group with a statement for public display on that organisation's website.

The police officer allows the owners of the website to present that statement as a direct quote from a Victorian police officer, and he also states that he is a police officer within the body of the statement.

The police officer allows the website to publish his full name as the owner of the statement, but the website fails to state his rank, title or division.

There is no indication on the website as to when the statement was supplied.

Are we, as individuals, legally entitled to receive clarification from VicPol regarding a police officer's official rank, title or division if we supply them with the full name of a currently serving member whom we are attempting to contact?

If asked what it is in relation to, our answer would be that it is a media-related enquiry, and that we are aiming to:

• correctly identify the owner of the statement, should the statement be republished
• confirm that the statement belongs to a current serving member of VicPol, and not a retired policeman
• provide the police officer with an opportunity to confirm that he is the individual who supplied the statement as it currently appears on the website in question

 

[Tim W]

Too many riddles to give you a useful answer.

 

[Clancy]

If you want to test the authenticity of a published media article, then surely you would contact the Australian communications and media authority?