In particular, commissioner frequently refers to senior police or government officials.

His book led to the filing of charges by several senior police and security service officials.

"It looks really bad," said a senior police official monitoring the case.

It was some sort of senior police do top brass from all divisions were there.

Australia, though, does not especially want him either: senior police and intelligence officials say there is no evidence that he violated Australian law.

"What we have here is a mystery," said a senior police official working on the case.

A senior police official described the officers as responsible and capable.

But one senior police official who was involved in the response played down the criticism in the report.

Winchester is Australia's most senior police officer to have been killed.

"That will work," one of the senior police said, to nods.