The second part of an Independent Police Conduct Authority report into how police handled the Roast Busters investigation has highlighted major shortcomings.
The group allegedly had sex with drunk teenage girls and boasted about their exploits online.
Police received at least seven complaints from girls as young as 13, but failed to follow through with inquiries and no charges were laid against the accused, Beraiah Hales and Joseph Parker.
Breakdown of investigation statistics:
- 110 girls canvassed during the investigation
- 25 girls invited to make formal statements
- five girls made formal statements
- 30 persons of interest
- five male suspects considered for prosecution
A timeline of events in the Roast Busters case:
2011-2012 – police are made aware of the Roast Busters and begin investigating. Victims complain to police, and at least one makes a formal complaint.
November 3, 2013 – a 3 News investigation reveals the Roast Busters as a group of teenage boys accused of getting underage girls drunk and having sex with them, before boasting about it online. Their Facebook page is taken down, and police say they can't prosecute without a formal complaint.
November 6 – two young girls tell 3 News they made complaints to police in 2011, but nothing was done.
November 7 – Police apologise for misleading the public over the number of complaints they'd received. Then-Police Minister Anne Tolley asks the IPCA to investigate the case.
November 21 – a petition with more than 110,000 signatures is presented to Parliament calling for action against the Roast Busters.
May 21, 2014 – the IPCA releases part one of its report, saying there was a "collective breakdown of communication". Police Association president Senior Sergeant Greg O'Connor admits police got it wrong.
October 29, 2014 – police decide not to lay charges against the Roast Busters, based on a lack of evidence.
March 19, 2015 – the second part of the IPCA's investigation is released, confirming police failed to follow through with complaints from victims or contact the accused's parents.
3 News
source: newshub archive
