Top cop backs me says Qld CCC boss

The newly appointed chair of Queensland's anti-corruption body says the state's top cop has welcomed his desire to investigate the state's police.

The head of Queensland's anti-corruption watchdog says he has the support of the state's police commissioner to conduct a review of the service's disciplinary procedure.

Queensland Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) chairman Alan MacSporran QC says his first priority in the job is investigating the state's police amid media reports of alleged brutality.

Mr MacSporran says Police Commissioner Ian Stewart has no issue with the proposed review and he's hopeful the state's police union will support it as well.

In his first media conference since taking over the job a month ago, Mr MacSporran said ensuring the public had no reason to fear or doubt Queensland's police was the initial focus of his chairmanship.

Police actions on the Gold Coast have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks following allegations of multiple cases of police brutality, prompting a review of police culture in the area.

"It seems to me that the CCC needs to be taking a more proactive role in that area, to restore and maintain public confidence in the integrity of police officers who are out there protecting the public," he said.

He said in the media recently there had been "necessarily, and appropriately, an exposure of practices that are less than acceptable.

"Excessive use of force by any police officer is totally unacceptable."

Mr MacSporran said he had signalled his intentions to Mr Stewart and was confident Queensland police would cooperate with his organisation.

"I'm very pleased to say that the police commissioner, who I've spoken to, is entirely supportive of a strong, independent and robust CCC," he said.

"He has expressed to me in the clearest terms, he has no difficulty at all with this organisation performing its work in the way that I've outlined to you.

"I'm assuming and hoping the police union has the same response."

The Queensland Police Union said it looked forward to working with the new CCC boss.

"The last time we had a productive relationship with the CCC was many years ago under Ross Martin," QPU president Ian Leavers said.

"Alan MacSporran is new to the role and we look forward to having meaningful engagement with him."


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Source: AAP



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