A retired Victorian public servant has been appointed to oversee an investigation into the Northern Territory’s former police commissioner in a bid to avoid any conflicts of interest.

Victoria’s former deputy ombudsman, John Taylor, has been named to head up the Office of the Commissioner for Public Interest Disclosure’s (OCPID) investigation into John McRoberts.

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On January 14 Mr McRoberts resigned amid a formal investigation into his conduct. He has denied any wrongdoing.

Acting Chief Minister Peter Chandler accepting the resignation, citing a perceived conflict of interest.

The resignation followed allegations the commissioner involved himself in a criminal investigation where his relationship with the subject of that investigation gave rise to a conflict of interest, Mr Chandler said in a statement at the time.

Victoria’s former deputy ombudsman, John Taylor, has been named to head up the investigation. Photo: ABC.

In a separate development, the Territory’s ombudsman Peter Shoyer also confirmed he would act in an oversight role of an investigation into the affair by the solicitor of the NT.

Taylor appointed after ‘careful enquiries’

In a statement the office of the OCPID said it appointed Mr Taylor after “careful enquires among senior lawyers and interstate agencies to determine who would be a suitable choice”.

Mr Taylor was appointed because the Public Interest Disclosure commissioner, Brenda Monaghan, ruled herself out of the investigation.

Ms Monaghan declared a conflict of interest, as soon as the allegations against Mr McRoberts became public.

She had a friendship with Lisa Coffey, the partner of Mr McRoberts.

The OCPID said Mr Taylor had “significant experience in managing and conducting complex investigations in a wide range of jurisdictions, including police, state and federal agencies and local government”.

“He has reported to the Victorian Parliament on a number of investigations including an investigation into Victoria Police Crime Statistics in 2011.”

Mr Taylor, it said, had “no connections to any person of interest in this matter”.

– with ABC