TWO police detectives will join Racing Victoria to boost the fight against corruption.
ROD NICHOLSON reports in the HERALD SUN that Tim Robinson, a former member of the Purana Taskforce, has 17 years police experience and joins the Compliance Assurance Team from the Racing and Gaming Intelligence Unit.
Rhys Melville, a 13-year veteran, moves from the Mitchell Crime Investigation Unit in regional Victoria.
They will join racing's integrity unit in May as the industry bolsters its $15 million annual commitment to manage and protect the integrity of Victorian racing.
The Compliance Assurance Team, which was formed in 2009, will now have eight members. It oversees investigations, stable inspections, bet monitoring and out-of-competition testing.
CAT is led by manager Kane Ashby and now includes a specialist investigation steward, three compliance assurance stewards, a betting analyst steward, an integrity liaison steward and a stable safe project officer.
It is one of three teams within RV's Integrity Department. The others are raceday stewards led by Terry Bailey and the equine welfare and veterinary team led by Dr Brian Stewart.
CAT made headlines last Spring Carnival when five stable inspections led to successful prosecutions for breaches of the Rules of Racing.
Racing Victoria's general manager of integrity, Dayle Brown, said the addition of the two detectives would give the unit "contemporary investigative skills" and that they would tackle issues such as potential corruption.
"They will assist young stewards, handing down their policing experience," he said. "Our platform is that if you cheat, you will be caught. Compared with other sports, we are the benchmark in integrity structures and we will continue to lead the way," Brown said.
"We spend $15 million annually on integrity and stewarding with more than 80 staff, working alongside our drug laboratory.
"Deterrence and detection are the platforms of our integrity program and these appointments will ensure the Compliance Assurance Team has an even greater presence."
STORY SOURCE: MELBOURNE HERALD-SUN - NEWS LIMITED.