Simon Overland
Encyclopedia
Simon Overland APM
(born 19 March 1962) is the former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police
in Australia. He previously worked with the Australian Federal Police
, and then with Victoria Police, focusing on Melbourne's gangland wars
. On 2 March 2009 he was named by Premier John Brumby
as Victoria Police Chief Commissioner. He resigned from this position on 16 June 2011.
, Overland was raised in Canberra
and gained qualifications from the University of Canberra
(Diploma of Legal Studies) and the Australian National University
(Bachelor of Laws, first class honours).
(AFP), where he worked in the taskforce that investigated the murder of AFP Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester
. He served about 19 years with the AFP; during this time he was selected by Australia's Police Commissioners to lead the Implementation Team that created the Australian Crime Commission
in January, 2003.
In January, 2003, Overland was appointed Assistant Commissioner (Crime) with Victoria Police, and led the Purana Taskforce on organised crime, which is credited with a prominent role in bringing an end to the Melbourne gangland wars
in the world of organised crime, which resulted in convictions and lengthy jail terms for underworld figures Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel
.
He was the public face of Victoria Police
's campaign against organised crime in Victoria, and often appeared in the media speaking about the issue. He lamented that the gangland wars have appeared to desensitise the public to violence, and was critical of people in the general public who took the view that we were well rid of criminals murdered in the ongoing feuds, and insisted that criminal figures are still human beings with the right to a fair trial, who should not be murdered any more than should general members of the public.
In mid-2006 he took the position of Deputy Commissioner in Victoria Police.
He was promoted to Chief Commissioner, replacing Christine Nixon, on 2 March 2009.
He faced criticism in 2011 over failings in a police computer system, which did not alert front-line officers to the parolee status of various criminals they interacted with, allowing the parolees to kill six people. He resigned from the position on 16 June 2011.
-based Brumby government
appear more favourable to voters when law and order was considered a major political issue.
At present the Ombudsman, George Brouwer is investigating the interaction between the former government and senior police figures ahead of the release of the crime statistics on 28 October 2010. Even though the Ombudsman’s report is still incomplete, it is expected to be critical of the relationship between the Brumby government and police force.
Overland resigned on 16 June 2011, a few hours after the release of a report from the Ombudsman, which criticised the 'misleading' crime statistics he published. It was revealed that he had had a discussion the previous night with the Police Minister Peter Ryan
, who indicated to him that if he were to resign, his resignation would be accepted. Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay is acting Chief Commissioner.
; and the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) with First-Class honours from the Australian National University
.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration in Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal
in the Australia Day Honours in 2008.
Australian Police Medal
The Australian Police Medal is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service....
(born 19 March 1962) is the former Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
in Australia. He previously worked with the Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
, and then with Victoria Police, focusing on Melbourne's gangland wars
Melbourne gangland killings
The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
. On 2 March 2009 he was named by Premier John Brumby
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
as Victoria Police Chief Commissioner. He resigned from this position on 16 June 2011.
Early life and education
Born in Murray Bridge, South AustraliaMurray Bridge, South Australia
Murray Bridge is the fourth most populous city in South Australia after Adelaide, Mount Gambier and Whyalla. It is located east-southeast of Adelaide and north of Meningie....
, Overland was raised in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
and gained qualifications from the University of Canberra
University of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
(Diploma of Legal Studies) and the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
(Bachelor of Laws, first class honours).
Career in law enforcement
With an honours degree in law and arts, he began his career in the Australian Federal PoliceAustralian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
(AFP), where he worked in the taskforce that investigated the murder of AFP Assistant Commissioner Colin Winchester
Colin Winchester
Colin Stanley Winchester APM, was an Assistant Commissioner in the Australian Federal Police . Winchester commanded ACT Police, the community policing component of the AFP Australian Federal Police responsible for the Australian Capital Territory.On 10 January 1989, at about 9:15 pm, he was...
. He served about 19 years with the AFP; during this time he was selected by Australia's Police Commissioners to lead the Implementation Team that created the Australian Crime Commission
Australian Crime Commission
The Australian Crime Commission is an Australian Government national criminal intelligence and investigation agency. It was formulated under the Australian Crime Commission Act which came into effect on 1 January 2003, establishing the ACC as a national statutory authority to combat serious and...
in January, 2003.
In January, 2003, Overland was appointed Assistant Commissioner (Crime) with Victoria Police, and led the Purana Taskforce on organised crime, which is credited with a prominent role in bringing an end to the Melbourne gangland wars
Melbourne gangland killings
The Melbourne gangland killings were the murders in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia of 36 criminal figures or partners between 16 January 1998 and 13 August 2010. The murders were in a series of retributional murders involving various underworld groups. The deaths caused a sustained power vacuum...
in the world of organised crime, which resulted in convictions and lengthy jail terms for underworld figures Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel
Tony Mokbel
Antonios Sajih 'Tony' Mokbel is an Australian from Melbourne, Australia, who was a fugitive until his recapture in Athens, Greece on 5 June 2007. He is of Lebanese descent and born in Kuwait. Detectives from Operation Purana allege that he is the mastermind behind the Melbourne amphetamines trade...
.
He was the public face of Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
's campaign against organised crime in Victoria, and often appeared in the media speaking about the issue. He lamented that the gangland wars have appeared to desensitise the public to violence, and was critical of people in the general public who took the view that we were well rid of criminals murdered in the ongoing feuds, and insisted that criminal figures are still human beings with the right to a fair trial, who should not be murdered any more than should general members of the public.
In mid-2006 he took the position of Deputy Commissioner in Victoria Police.
He was promoted to Chief Commissioner, replacing Christine Nixon, on 2 March 2009.
He faced criticism in 2011 over failings in a police computer system, which did not alert front-line officers to the parolee status of various criminals they interacted with, allowing the parolees to kill six people. He resigned from the position on 16 June 2011.
Crime statistics controversy
Currently there is an ongoing Ombudsman investigation into allegations that Overland willingly aided in selectively releasing crime statistics to help make the former LaborAustralian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
-based Brumby government
Brumby Ministry
The Brumby Ministry was the 66th ministry of the Government of Victoria. It was led by the Premier of Victoria, John Brumby, and Deputy Premier, Rob Hulls. It succeeded the Bracks Ministry on 3 August 2007, following the retirement of former Premier Steve Bracks and his deputy John Thwaites...
appear more favourable to voters when law and order was considered a major political issue.
At present the Ombudsman, George Brouwer is investigating the interaction between the former government and senior police figures ahead of the release of the crime statistics on 28 October 2010. Even though the Ombudsman’s report is still incomplete, it is expected to be critical of the relationship between the Brumby government and police force.
Overland resigned on 16 June 2011, a few hours after the release of a report from the Ombudsman, which criticised the 'misleading' crime statistics he published. It was revealed that he had had a discussion the previous night with the Police Minister Peter Ryan
Peter Ryan (politician)
Peter Julian Ryan is an Australian politician and leader of the National Party in Victoria. He has represented the electoral district of Gippsland South since 1992, and has been the Deputy Premier of Victoria, Minister for Police as well as the Minister for Rural and Regional Development since 2...
, who indicated to him that if he were to resign, his resignation would be accepted. Deputy Commissioner Ken Lay is acting Chief Commissioner.
Qualifications and other achievements
Simon Overland holds the degree of Bachelor of Arts in Administration and Graduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the University of CanberraUniversity of Canberra
Over the years the Stone Day program has gradually become larger and larger, taking up a whole week and now Stonefest is one of Australia's most popular music festivals. The first foundation celebrations were held in 1971. In 1973 Stone Day celebrations were held over two days, which was expanded...
; and the degree of Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) with First-Class honours from the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration in Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal
Australian Police Medal
The Australian Police Medal is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian police force.The APM was introduced in 1986, and replaced the Imperial Queen's Police Medal for Gallantry and Queen's Police Medal for Distinguished Service....
in the Australia Day Honours in 2008.