"That place was a hunting ground for the probationary constables … The Leading Senior Constable [and I] had been out in the car for an hour – I felt uncomfortable – it was dark. He kept asking [questions about my private life]. I didn't want to be rude or rock the boat. I am a big believer in your name is your reputation and it is all you have.

He started telling me that [he has extra marital sex]. He said his wife didn't mind. He kept asking my opinion about it and if I thought it was "wrong". I tried to be diplomatic about it, that if it worked for him and his family then it was his business.

That led to him suggesting that I wouldn't mind that – that I was the type of girl who would be cool. I felt very uncomfortable, I didn't want to say, "You're a big creep," so I humoured him. He kept going on – would you be the type of girl that would want to do that? He pulled over somewhere pretty secluded so that we could check on people speeding.

I was very, very junior, I didn't know our call sign, where we were or how to use the radio. I felt very vulnerable. He started asking about what kind of sex I like and that sort of thing. At this point, I hadn't said stop per se, I'd just tried to redirect the conversation … I didn't want to be labelled a troublemaker, and I was new. I didn't want to be 'that girl' who was "a bitch" to my colleagues. That stuff follows women around the force – "she's the one that made a sexual harassment complaint".

I definitely tried to mitigate it somehow, I don't remember how, but just avoid the conversation and change the subject. He kept asking me what I would be "up for". I think I said, "I don't think that is what I would do, certainly not in a police car". I tried to move my leg when he touched it. He was saying, "I reckon you would be the type of girl that if I got my cock out you would suck it". He kept pushing it. I kept thinking, "I am going to get raped in a police car. This is not an ideal start to my career".

Eventually I snapped when he started touching himself (over clothes), I threatened to spray him. He said, "You don't have to be a bitch about it". I said, "You don't have to pull your dick out".

He put the car in gear and drove straight back to the police station, without saying a further word. After that he completely ignored me.

It was gross. It was awful. I didn't tell anyone I worked with … It was really disempowering. I did tell a [senior woman I worked with] a few weeks later. A lot of the girls were consensually sleeping with senior constables. I told her a shortened version of what had happened. She said, "You need to tell me who it was and I will get him f...ing fired". I didn't tell her – there was too much at stake – there were a lot of men in management and he still seemed pretty well protected."

Source: Female interviewee - Independent Review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment, including predatory behaviour, in Victoria Police.