Emails between the now-Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police and his media advisers reveal how the force tried to keep the unfolding Lawyer X legal scandal — now the subject of a royal commission — out of the media spotlight.

Key points: The emails revealed there were concerns about Graham Ashton speaking on talkback radio about the scandal

The emails revealed there were concerns about Graham Ashton speaking on talkback radio about the scandal A media advisor said the force could weather the issue if they put off speaking to the media for at least 24 hours

A media advisor said the force could weather the issue if they put off speaking to the media for at least 24 hours Nicola Gobbo's lawyer accused Graham Ashton of being more worried about the force's reputation than protecting the informer

At one point the media team even hoped news about Cardinal George Pell's testimony before the child abuse royal commission would knock the story of Nicola Gobbo's informing "off the front page".

In a flurry of emails on April 1, 2014, the media advisers at Victoria Police tried to come up with ways to stop the facts about Nicola Gobbo from getting out.

An urgent Supreme Court hearing on a Sunday night had prevented the Herald Sun newspaper from publishing that Nicola Gobbo was a registered informer.

The fight to keep it from being revealed sparked a multi-million dollar court battle by police to stop criminals from being told their cases might be tainted by Ms Gobbo's evidence.

The email trail has been revealed during this week's royal commission hearings, where the current Victoria Police Chief Commissioner, Graham Ashton, has taken to the stand.

The email trail started after 3AW morning host Neil Mitchell called for a royal commission.

The assistant director of the police's media and corporate communications department sent an email to colleagues including then-chief commissioner Ken Lay and then-deputy commissioner Ashton.

EMAIL from Charlie Morton, Assistant Director, Media and Corporate Communications Department: "All, In case you didn't hear it — a very strong editorial from Neil Mitchell this morning advocating for a royal commission into the Lawyer X situation. He said, and I quote, that Vic could be on the verge of one of the 'biggest law and order scandals in its history'; he said it could result in 'crooks walking out of jail, lawyers being thrown out of their profession and potentially killers walking free…'"

They were all questions that could be put to the deputy commissioner on Mitchell's radio program the next day.

EMAIL from Deputy Commissioner Ashton: "Thanks Charlie should we be going on his show tomorrow?"

Graham Ashton took over Victoria Police's top job in 2015. ( ABC News: Michael Barnett )

The then-deputy commissioner was concerned, the email said, because he thought 3AW host Neil Mitchell believed Simon Overland, who led the force from 2009 to 2011, had done something wrong.

In March, police had gotten wind that the Herald Sun was about to name Nicola Gobbo as Victoria's secret police informer. But the word had spread.

EMAIL from Charlie Morton, Assistant Director, Media and Corporate Communications Department: "Hi Graham, Happy to discuss, but on balance, I think for at least the next 24 hours we don't. … [Herald Sun reporter Anthony] Dowsley has used all his best ammo already (I think.) None of the other journos have got anything different or are prepared to use it. The Pell stuff is coming tomorrow and will knock this way off the front page. Unless there are some serious appeals from convicted crims which might get up as a result of this, then I can't see this continuing with the same level of profile. There will be more, but I suspect we can weather it."

Victoria Police then started to look at a court injunction that would lead to not only the story being suppressed, but also preventing the use of the term Lawyer X.

EMAIL from Merita Tabain, Director, Media and Corporate Communications Department: "Graham, I do think Charlie is right here. I think would add fuel to the issue at this point in time."

Victoria Police went on to spend $4.52 million to stop the arrangement from being made public.

The force has always maintained it was because Nicola Gobbo's life would be in danger.

Ms Gobbo's identity was revealed in March this year after the Court of Appeal lifted a suppression order. ( ABC News: Greg Nelson )

Under questioning for a third day at the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants, Chief Commissioner Ashton was asked repeatedly if Victoria Police was more concerned about its own reputation than her safety.

"Your primary concern was not Ms Gobbo's health or safety, that was collateral, it was about not revealing she was a source because of the impact it would have on Victoria Police, its reputation and a number of convictions," said Ms Gobbo's lawyer, Rishi Nathwani.

"No, that's complete rubbish," said Chief Commissioner Ashton.

Counsel assisting the commission, Chris Winneke QC, argued police seemed more interested in finding out where the media leaks had come from than the conduct of Victoria Police and its relationship with Ms Gobbo.

The inquiry heard despite legal advice in 2011 advising police that criminal convictions were tainted, it was not until media attention heated up that police moved to further disclose what it had done.