Officer 'blocked camera, fudged breath test'

A corruption inquiry has heard a policeman in the New South Wales central west showed a fellow policeman's son how to block the station's camera and did a breath test to help him get off a drink-driving charge.

The Police Integrity Commission (PIC) is investigating two cases of misconduct involving police and random breath tests.

It is alleged that in December last year, P-plater Adam Clunes recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.20 after being stopped by Orange police.

Today, Adam Clunes admitted he had at least six drinks before driving.

The policewoman who took the breath test knew he was the son of long-serving officer Colin Clunes, who had recently been her supervisor.

She called Mr Clunes and told him his son was in custody.

The inquiry has been played a DVD taken at the breath test room at the police station.

It shows Adam Clunes and another policeman leaning over the machine.

The witness said that a policeman breathed into the machine for him and told him where the camera was so they could keep their backs turned to it.

Adam Clunes said the officer told him his dad did not know what happened and to this day, he has not told him the truth.

The PIC has also been investigating another incident in which a drunk corrective services officer was allowed to drive home drunk from Moree Police Station after officers received a call from his boss.

It is alleged David John Webb got out of a drink-driving charge because his boss, John Weavers, was friends with the station inspector Jeffrey Budd.

Senior Constable Phillip Smith has already admitted he did a breath test in Mr Webb's place to record a blood-alcohol reading of zero.

Related:

Police breath test for mates probe
The Police Integrity Commission is investigating whether police officers at Moree and Orange took breath tests for mates, including the son of a fellow police officer, so they would not be charged with drink driving.