Former NSW police officer alleges she was drugged and raped by senior colleague still on the force

The woman, who has not been named, said the attack occurred while she was still serving and that her alleged attacker remains in the police force. She described the senior colleague as having “a reputation for preying on women,” accusations she believes were known among some officers but never formally investigated.

The former officer’s account, published by Just In journalist Lia Harris on Monday, adds to a string of sexual assault and harassment allegations that have dogged the NSW Police Force in recent years. She said she was drugged and raped after a social gathering involving several officers, and that fear of reprisal and a culture of silence prevented her from reporting the incident at the time.

“He is still walking the halls, still wearing the uniform, while I live with the trauma every day,” she said in the report.

A NSW Police spokesperson said the force “takes all allegations of sexual assault seriously” and urged anyone with information to come forward. The spokesperson declined to comment on the specific case, citing privacy and the potential for an ongoing investigation.

The alleged victim has not said whether she has filed a formal complaint with the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) or the police internal affairs unit, but she said she hoped her story would encourage other victims to speak out.

The case echoes earlier scandals, including the 2023 revelations of widespread sexual harassment and misogyny within the force documented by the LECC, and the 2024 conviction of a former NSW police officer for sexually assaulting a colleague at a station party. Reform advocates argue that the force’s internal reporting mechanisms remain broken and that senior leadership has failed to act on repeated warnings.

NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb has previously committed to cultural reform, including mandatory training and anonymous reporting channels. A report by the state’s Ombudsman in 2025 found that while some improvements had been made, “a deep-seated cultural resistance to accountability persists, particularly in regional commands.”

Why This Matters

The allegation, if substantiated, would represent another serious failure in the oversight of police conduct in Australia’s largest state police force, eroding public trust.
It highlights the ongoing risk to female officers and staff in what critics describe as a persistently hostile work environment.
The fact that the alleged perpetrator is still serving raises questions about the effectiveness of internal investigations and the willingness of police leadership to act on known patterns of behavior.

Background

Over the past decade, multiple inquiries and reports have documented systemic sexual misconduct within NSW Police. In 2021, a landmark investigation by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission found that sexual harassment was “endemic” and that victims faced retaliation for reporting. The force introduced a Sexual Misconduct Prevention Strategy in 2022, but a 2025 Ombudsman report concluded that “cultural change remains superficial.”

Several high-profile cases have underscored the problem: in 2023, a senior officer was found to have engaged in a long-term pattern of sexual harassment without consequence; in 2024, a former officer was jailed for assaulting a colleague. The current case appears to follow a similar pattern—a senior colleague accused of predation while rank-and-file members allegedly looked the other way.

Key Perspectives

Alleged victim: Claims she was drugged and raped by a known predator, and that she was not believed or was too intimidated to report it at the time. She wants a full independent inquiry and greater accountability. NSW Police Force: Stresses that all allegations are taken seriously and that the matter will be investigated. But the force has not confirmed whether any internal or external probe is underway, and its past record suggests slow or inadequate responses to such claims. Critics and reform advocates: Argue that the force’s culture of “protecting its own” prevents justice. They point to the lack of independent oversight and say that relying on internal investigations has failed victims repeatedly. They call for civilian-led investigations and mandatory reporting of all misconduct allegations.

What to Watch

Any official statement or investigation announcement from the NSW Police Force or the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.
Whether the alleged victim files a formal complaint or takes legal action, which could trigger a review by the state Ombudsman.
Potential for further witnesses to come forward, particularly if the senior officer is named publicly.
The response from the NSW Police Association (the union) — it has historically defended accused officers vigorously, which could escalate the issue politically.

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