The Investigator

Former homicide squad detective Charlie Bezzina. HWT staff.

Danger lurks with parked cop cars

COMMENT: PARKING police cars by highways to deter speeding drivers may slow leadfoots down, but it risks causing more problems than it solves.

Comment Let’s jail small-time crooks at home

COMMENT: SOME say flogging could stop our prisons overflowing, but ex-detective Charlie Bezzina says we could get tough with home detention for minor offences.

The Investigator Police taskforces get results

COMMENT: YESTERDAY’S raids show that crime syndicates can be complex and the only way to break them is with long-term taskforces, says Charlie Bezzina.

Cops rights forgotten amid charges

COMMENT: When police are booked with a criminal offence the rule book seems to get thrown away, ex-detective Charlie Bezzina says.

New warrant system a good start

SPEEDING up the warrants system is a good first step, but it needs to be linked to a state-of-the-art police database, ex-detective Charlie Bezzina says.

‘Fat Tony & Co’ shoots down the truth

CHARLIE Bezzina - who appears as a character in Fat Tony & Co - says the story is loose with the truth, despite his efforts to help. And don’t start him on the acting.

Cut out the bikie cancer

COMMENT: OUTLAW motorcycle gangs are like a cancer, and if left untouched will spread like a disease, writes ex-detective Charlie Bezzina.

Charlie Bezzina The human emotions in tragedies

THE death scene at Tyabb would have been one of panic when investigators arrived, but police need to show compassion while also gathering evidence.

Time to snuff out firebug threat

COMMENT: AS FIRES rage across the state, it is up to everyone to smother the threat of arsonists driven by their own warped sense of power.

Crime busting Reward silence won't help cases

OFFERING rewards in unsolved criminal cases is a last resort, but it can work. So the decision to not say when payouts are made could be self-defeating.

We're too soft on teen tyrants

COMMENT: TROUBLE-making teens with no respect for the law know they're a "protected species", says ex-detective Charlie Bezzina amid the Northcote pool furore.

Law & order Bung reward may tempt confidante

THE person responsible for Bung's disappearance will today be racking his memory as to who may just have a million reasons to pick up the phone.

Crimes on Celluloid Laying down the law on crime flicks

CRIMES ON CELLULOID: EX-DETECTIVE Charlie Bezzina knows a bit about crime, today he reveals his top ten crime films. | Andrew Rule's selections

Opinion Don't roll the dice with ice

COMMENT: FOR those who think the so-called "recreational drug" ice is harmless, let me take you on a journey. Hopefully you won't like what you read.

Charlie Bezzina Needless death of cricket legend

IT is at this time every year that I reflect on the needless death of David Hookes, who fell victim to one unnecessary punch.

'Ron knew writing was on wall'

IT was around Christmas Eve when my long-time homicide squad amigo Rod Iddles told me members of force command had decided to move him.

No such thing as a routine shift

ANY day can be dangerous for the brave men and women who work as police officers, firefighters and paramedics, says former top detective Charlie Bezzina.

Comment Bung confession raises doubts

COMMENT: A young man's confession that he killed Siriyakorn "Bung" Siraboon seems highly improbable, but not impossible.

Shaw case is not finished with

COMMENT: THE controversy surrounding rebel MP Geoff Shaw is not over and done with, despite a string of deception and misconduct charges being dropped.

Police apology is not warranted

COMMENT: THE instant apology from VicPol for detective Ron Iddles' actions highlighting a shocking reality was an over-reaction, writes Charlie Bezzina.