Getting the evidence to procure a conviction is the cornerstone of police work, and in many cases this involves a police officer working " under cover " .
The revelation that leaks have occurred from within the police force must send a shiver down the back of those involved in this dangerous activity. In particular, the mix of bikie gangs and big money drug transactions are so rewarding for the criminal fraternity that murder to plug a leak would not be unusual.
No doubt that identity of those working under cover is protected by using codes, but once certain information leaches back to a gang it's very nature can at least pinpoint the likely source - and in some cases can lead to an innocent meeting a gruesome fate.
In this instance the " rat in the ranks " was an analyst processing information gained.
The danger is that police work will be compromised by a reluctance of serving officers to undertake the dangerous task of working undercover - and without that the information flow will be sharply reduced.
Time to sharpen up the " need to know " pipeline and put the information flow in the hands of a single officer that the undercover cop implicitly trusts.
The old adage that " loose lips sinks ships " is very applicable to undercover police work !
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