Inspector Glenane was mentored in the Police Leadership Mentoring Program. This program was initiated to support police and to foster the theme of partnership amongst leaders in Rotary, business and the Victoria Police. At the Rotary Club of Hawthorn, his Rotary mentor is Colin Crawford.
The Victorian Witness Protection Act (1999) enables police to convince individuals to testify against criminal colleagues and to help in breaking up crime gang activity. Similar steps had been taken in other states and in other countries. In the U.S.A, the operation of a similar act has been credited with the breaking of the Mafia hold on organised crime in that country. In 2008, Tony was awarded the Angela Taylor Memorial Scholarship, named after Constable Angela Taylor who was killed in a bomb explosion outside the Russel St. Police Complex in 1966. This enabled him to travel overseas and study similar schemes in the U.K, U.S.A, Ireland and Italy.
He found both similarities and dissimilarities that all helped to guide him in how witness protection in Victoria could be better conducted. The provision of complete protection is very difficult to achieve as so many factors are involved; from physical protection until the evidence is given, to the future needs of protection of the individual and often his/her family. These often include change of identity, change of location and rehousing. Change of identity is very complex as it requires complete cut off from existing friends and relatives which is extremely hard on the individual, his wife and any children. On top of this, the witness generally has high expectations of what he wants to be given, as previously they have lived a life where, if they wanted something, they took it.
Despite all these difficulties, the protection of witnesses is proving well worthwhile as it is serving to break the grip of organised crime and the gangs involved. In the future it is hoped that a National agency will be established including central coordination and central records, as well as free exchange of management methods and training to achieve optimum results. The Rotary Club of Hawthorn is proud to be playing some part in this war against crime by initiating and participating in the Police Leadership Mentoring program.
