FORMER SERGEANT PINKERTON
Dr KERNOHAN (Camden) [6.07]: I speak on behalf of my constituent William James Pinkerton of 7 Waterhouse Place, Camden. Honourable members might think that name rings a bell.
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Mr Harrison: Is that Pinkerton of the police agency?
Dr KERNOHAN: He was a policeman, but not in the agency. Bill Pinkerton is a former sergeant who was accused of a crime he did not commit. I do not intend to go through the detail of the case because it is well recorded in an upper House debate on 18 October this year when it was raised by the Hon. J. F. Ryan as a matter of urgent public importance. In essence, on 19 December 1991 Bill Pinkerton went to the Downing Centre Local Court where he was charged with six counts of bribery. At that time he was the first policeman to be looked at by the Independent Commission Against Corruption. The court was packed with reporters and the matter was in all the newspapers. The case was stood over until 29, 30 and then 31 July 1992. In the interim Bill Pinkerton came to me. I have known him for more than 20 years, and I have always known him to be an honest man, a good Christian and a good man in the community. I wrote to the then Minister for Police on 21 February 1992 as follows:
I would request that a very senior person in the Department of Public Prosecutions review this case before it goes to Court in July 1992.
The case had anomalies left, right and centre; honourable members can read about these in Hansard in the debate to which I have referred. It so happened that one of the criminals came clean and told a policeman that he had told lies. The bribery story was concocted so that he and the other criminal accusing Bill Pinkerton of bribery could receive reduced sentences and perhaps some money. On 9 December 1992, the Department of Public Prosecutions said that no further proceedings would occur, and on 18 December the magistrate formally dismissed the charges and Bill was reinstated to the police force. Nevertheless, during this period a strong, good man was reduced to a shambling, trembling wreck through being unjustly accused.
He received no support from the police system and none from the political system. Unfortunately, he was discharged medically unfit - and I can understand why - on 30 July 1993. Ironically, he received the police medal for 25 years good and valorous service, but not one penny of compensation for the trauma he had undergone. In Hansard on 18 October 1995 the Hon. John Ryan stated that in an interview on radio station 2UE between Alan Jones and the Premier, the Premier said words to the effect, "This is outrageous. It should not happen. This man should get an apology." Bill Pinkerton has received nothing. I understand that the Attorney General is reviewing the case. Bill Pinkerton is a victim; no less a victim than somebody who is bashed. Criminals who are bashed in gaol are awarded victims compensation. Bill Pinkerton is a victim and deserves some form of compensation for his trauma.