A crime scene photo of murdered Melbourne woman Jill Meagher was shown to hundreds of men during a fundraising talk by a senior detective.

The photo of a semi-naked Ms Meagher, lying in a shallow grave, was shown to an audience of 400 men at a Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia charity event in Bendigo last Friday, News Corp Australia reports.

Homicide veteran Detective Senior Sergeant Ron Iddles was conducting the talk, which was about his job.

Audience members told News Corp they were shocked by the photo and had to look away.

Acting Deputy Commissioner Steve Fontana described the showing of the photo as a “deeply unfortunate error of judgment”.

He apologised to Ms Meagher’s family and the community.

Mr Fontana said Victoria Police had banned further public presentations on operational matters until a protocol was developed.

Det Sen Sgt Iddles is a 30-year police veteran and one of Victoria’s most experienced detectives.

Ms Meagher was raped and murdered in Brunswick in September last year.