‘Bureaucratic madness’ behind decision to move on highly-respected detective

Highly-respected detective Mick Hughes is set to lose his position as head of the Victoria Police homicide squad under the force’s rotation policy.

Neil Mitchell revealed on Monday that Hughes would be replaced by Missing Persons Squad boss Tim Day – currently the lead investigator in the Karen Risteviski case – on December 1.

“To me, this is bureaucratic madness,” Neil Mitchell said.

“It is an absurd policy, in my view.

“I’m told Tim Day is a very good operator, too, but that is not the point.

“As soon as somebody gets to a level of experience like this – out they go.

“Not because they’re failing, not because they can’t do the job but because there’s a ring on the calendar.”

Click PLAY below to hear Neil Mitchell’s thoughts