Christmas Island Whistleblower Says Police Withdrawal Was Part of Plan to “Manufacture a Situation”

A former Australian Federal Police sergeant, Brendan Thomson, has made explosive allegations that the force withdrew its riot squad from Christmas Island in 2010 as part of a plan to “manufacture a situation” that would justify the withdrawal. This claim comes amid an ongoing dispute between the police and the whistleblower.

Withdrawal of Riot Squad

Thomson claims that the decision to withdraw the specialist operations response team (SORT) from Christmas Island was made despite warnings of potential violence at the time. According to him, the AFP’s own intelligence reports highlighted the risk of improvised weapons being used during protests on the island.

AFP Response

The Australian Federal Police has denied these allegations, stating that the decision to redeploy specialist resources from Christmas Island was made for “sound operational reasons”. The force also rejected any suggestion that it would make decisions without considering the safety and security of its staff and the community.

Parliamentary Inquiry

A parliamentary inquiry into the 2010 riots on Christmas Island concluded that the severity of the violence was exacerbated by policy and training deficiencies of both the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and Serco, as well as the AFP’s decision to withdraw the SORT team from the island.

Whistleblower’s Claims

Thomson has now sent a detailed brief to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP) alleging that the inquiry was misled and supplied false information by the AFP. He claims that he had reported concerns about the CCTV system and containment issues on the island, but these were ignored by the force.

Consequences

Thomson’s allegations have sparked widespread outrage and concern over the handling of the situation on Christmas Island. The island’s community has been left feeling vulnerable and unsupported, with many calling for greater transparency and accountability from the authorities.

Impact on Whistleblower

The whistleblower’s family has also been affected by his decision to speak out, with his wife Noeleen Thomson saying that they have lost friends as a result of his actions. “I just want Brendan’s character and integrity to be restored because that’s what’s been tarnished here,” she said.

Thomson is currently facing financial ruin as a result of his decision to come forward and continue to fight for the truth. He has also spoken out about the toll the experience has taken on him and his family, saying that they are “on the brink of financial ruin”.

Ongoing Case

The AFP has not taken action to terminate Thomson’s employment, but he remains suspended from duty. His case is ongoing and continues to raise important questions about accountability and transparency within the Australian Federal Police.