Exclusive: submissions by women to inquiry describe sexist behaviour, affecting responses to domestic violence

Current and former female police officers in Queensland have detailed widespread misogynistic behaviour, sexist comments and sexual harassment by male colleagues, in submissions to a state inquiry focusing on problems with police culture.

The commission of inquiry was recommended by the state’s women’s safety and justice taskforce, which found “widespread cultural issues” affecting police responses to domestic and family violence.

References by male police officers to an area where female detectives sat as “cunt corner”

A male officer questioning “is this a real rape or is she looking for a free pap smear?”

Officers questioning the validity of a domestic violence complaint involving two police officers because the incident was the second allegation and “you’d think she’d learn the first time”

Male officers claiming a new inclusion and diversity initiative encouraging anonymous complaints had been set up “just because you chicks don’t like getting grabbed on the arse anymore”

Officers deterring women from making complaints by providing “unappealing if not terrifying” versions of court proceedings

Officers convincing domestic and family violence victims their issues were related to mental health

A male officer making comments about a female investigator that she was “a good operator until her arse got fat” and other detectives being judged based on their appearance

Promotion panels ignoring or making derogatory comments about female applications

A male commissioned officer complaining about a female subordinate being on leave suffering post-natal depression, saying “not only do I have to put up with having women in my office I have to manage this crap”

The male officer in charge of a large Brisbane police station repeatedly showing colleagues footage of a drunk young woman urinating in public

Officers giving pregnant women who are subject to domestic and family violence unwanted anti-abortion information

Officers performing “diversionary tasks” to avoid attending domestic violence calls