A government minister has put the police union on the spot over its decision to approve funds for an officer accused of domestic violence. The officer in question faces allegations that he punched and stalked his partner, and the union's executive voted through the loan anyway. The minister argues that backing a member against such serious accusations leaves the union with questions it must answer publicly. Inside the organisation the decision has boiled over, with rank-and-file members openly asking why their subscription money is tied to this case. Supporters of the loan counter that every officer is entitled to assistance until a court has tested the allegations. The timing could hardly be worse, since a contest for the union's leadership is on the horizon. Leadership rivals are now being pressed to say whether they backed the payment and whether they would repeat it in office. However the vote pans out, the episode has already dented the executive's standing and handed its critics an argument they are unlikely to drop.