Racing Victoria has appointed two former police officers to its compliance assurance team (CAT) which has been behind a number of high-profile prosecutions over the past six months.
Former Victoria Police detectives Tim Robinson and Rhys Melville will join the CAT in May.
Robinson, a former member of the Purana Taskforce that investigated Melbourne's gangland wars, joins RV from Victoria Police's Racing & Gaming Intelligence Unit, while Melville, a 13-year veteran has been recruited from a Victorian regional crime investigation unit.
"Our primary desire has and will always be to ensure a level playing field for all participants and the Compliance Assurance Team play a pivotal role in ensuring that the minority that wish to cheat are brought to account," RV's integrity manager Dayle Brown said.
"Deterrence and detection are the platforms of our integrity program and these appointments will ensure the Compliance Assurance Team has an even greater presence in the field to build upon their outstanding work over the past six months."
The CAT team has responsibility for conducting raids on racing stables with a focus on preventing the treatment of horses in the 24 hours before they race.