Filthy Rat

by Simon Illingworth, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (Other Contributor)

When Simon Illingworth joined the Victorian Police Force, he wanted only to help the community. But because he spoke out against a corrupt sergeant, he was isolated, threatened and bashed by some of his colleagues. Undaunted by this intimidation, he spent four years working for Police Internal Affairs, weeding out crooked police. He received many commendations and brought successful prosecutions against corrupt officers. But the work took its toll and in May 2004, depressed and discouraged, he risked everything to tell his inside story to Australian Story.

this book is a unique insight into the frightening world of Melbourne's gangland killings and police corruption. It is told by a whistleblower who, like Deborah Lee Locke, the author of Watching the Detectives staunchly believes that, if honest citizens stand up to be counted, good will always defeat evil.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2011

Reviews

[Ali · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an important book, even if frequently not a well-written one. Illingworth tells his story as a cop defeated by corruption and a police force set up to incorporate it. Reading the book is frustrating, as Illingworth is really just telling a story of his own journey, which skims through events of huge importance to Victorian politics, without ever really stopping to explore them, or frequently, even to explain the whole story.

Snouts in the Trough was, for me, a much better put-together book on Victorian police corruption, filling in many gaps.

Having said that, Illingworth comes out of the book as a good bloke, struggling to deal with a world fundamentally at odds with the values it expouses. At the very least, it serves as a confirmation of the picture painted by outside journalists.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the author sometimes comes across as arrogant and a lone crusader, there is no doubting he has done some amazing things. Solid moral compass and incredible dedication to his values. The rest of us could only hope to be as staunch as this guy in the face of adversity. A great read.