Police failed in sex assault complaint against hospital security guard - IPCA

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Police failed to responsibly handle a sexual assault complaint made against a hospital security guard, by a patient of the same hospital, a report has found.

The report, released today by the Independent Police Conduct Authority, also found that police discriminated against the woman due to her mental health.

According to the report, the woman told police she had been sexually assaulted by a security guard at a hospital where she was a patient, in November 2012.

It was not until August 2013, when the security guard was arrested and charged for an unrelated sexual incident, that he was also charged over her complaint.

Despite the man being arrested, the woman was not informed and she later laid a complaint with the authority.

She claimed police took little action in relation to her allegation, and discriminated against her due to her mental health.

Assistant Commissioner Grant Nicholls said police accepted the findings of the authority and apologised to the woman for the officers' poor handling of her complaint.

"This is not the standard of service that any victim, regardless of their circumstances should receive, and we are extremely disappointed that in this instance we did not meet those standards."

Mr Nicholls said both staff members involved had been subject to the employment process as a result, although he could not comment as to whether any disciplinary action was carried out.

"Despite what happened in this instance, I would like to reassure all victims of sexual assault that the handling of this particular case in no way diminishes the ongoing commitment that police [have] as an organisation to ensuring all victims are treated fairly and with respect," Mr Nicholls said.

"Nor does it take away from the strong focus we continue to put on improving our service in this area."

Today, any offending of a sexual nature was referred to the relevant criminal investigation branch, and then to an adult sexual assault unit, Mr Nicholls said.

"Each police district now has a unit, staffed with fully trained and experienced police officers, who are specifically responsible for investigating adult sexual assault complaints and providing victims with access to support services."