Police Integrity Commission

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For similarly named organisations, see List of police complaints authorities.

Police Integrity Commission
QC, Commissioner
Website
pic.nsw.gov.au

The Police Integrity Commission, was a

New South Wales Government, responsible for the prevention, detection, and investigation of alleged serious misconduct in the Police Force in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The mission of the commission was to be an effective agent in the reduction of serious police misconduct. On 1 July 2017, the Police Integrity Commission was abolished and replaced by the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission.[1]

The commission was established on 1 July 1996 pursuant to the Police Integrity Act 1996 (NSW) following the Wood Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service.

The commission was led by a

Minister for Police and Emergency Services, back then it reported to the Premier of New South Wales. An independent Inspector of the Police Integrity Commission
provided oversight of the operational functions of the commission.

History

Prior to the commission's establishment, matters of police integrity were dealt with by the Police Tribunal of New South Wales. The commission was set up following a recommendation by the Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service.[2] That recommendation, among others,[3] led to a radical transformation of the police service in New South Wales. The commission was the successor to the Royal Commission, although the commission's powers and duties were far more extensive than those granted to the Royal Commission.

The Commission looked into serious police misconduct and could refuse to investigate. There was no other body or Commission that looked into police misconduct except for the NSW Ombudsman. However, the Ombudsman, as a matter of procedure, would refer any complaints made about police or unsatisfactory police investigations back to the area command or the investigating officer.

On 26 November 2015 Police Minister

NSW Parliament to establish the commission.[5]

Constitution

The commission was established under the Police Integrity Act 1996 (NSW). The act set out the principal functions of the commission. They included:[6]

  • preventing, detecting or investigating serious police misconduct;
  • managing or overseeing other agencies in the detection and investigation of serious police misconduct and other police misconduct; and
  • manage matters not completed by the Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service.

The Commission employed a variety of experienced staff including lawyers, accountants, police, investigators and analysts. Where police officers were employed, they were employed from overseas or interstate.

The commission had extensive powers to summons witnesses and require the production of documents by third parties in relation to an investigation. The Commissioner could issue a warrant for the arrest of a witness who does not appear in answer to a summons. The Commissioner could direct that a prisoner be brought out of prison to be examined. The commission could also issue search warrants to search and seize property.

Hearings

The St. James Centre in Elizabeth Street, Sydney where the Police Integrity Commission was based.

The commission could conduct public or private hearings depending on the nature of the allegations. A hearing could be partly heard in private and partly in public. The Commissioner had the discretion to allow persons to appear and take part in a hearing. There was no automatic right of appearance. Similarly, the Commissioner could allow a person to be legally represented. Generally, the commission had to give a person giving evidence the opportunity to be legally represented.

Its hearings, when in Sydney, were held in its headquarters in the St James Centre, which was located at Level 3, 111 Elizabeth Street, in the Sydney CBD.

Parliamentary Joint Committee

The committee on the Ombudsman, the Police Integrity Commission and the Crime Commission

Houses of Parliament
on any of those matters raised. The committee also examined each annual report and other report of the commission and of the Inspector and reported to both Houses of Parliament on any matter arising out those reports. The committee also examined trends and changes in police corruption, and practices and methods relating to police corruption, and reported to both Houses of Parliament any changes which the Joint Committee thinks desirable to the functions, structures and procedures of the Commission and the Inspector. Lastly, the committee could inquire into any question in connection with its functions which is referred to it by both Houses of Parliament, and report to both Houses on that question.

Inspector of the commission

The Act provided for the appointment of an inspector of the Commission. The inspector was an independent person of the commission that had the authority to investigate complaints against the commission.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Our history". LECC. Retrieved 6 April 2021.
  2. ^ "Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service". Police Integrity Commission. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 25 February 2017.
  3. ^ See, Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 (NSW), AustLII
  4. ^ Olding, Rachel (26 November 2015). "Police Integrity Commission scrapped in the biggest overhaul of police oversight in 20 years". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  5. ^ Kidd, Jessica (9 November 2016). "New police watchdog can't recycle other agencies' staff, NSW Police Association says". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  6. ^ Police Integrity Commission Act 1996 (NSW)
  7. ^ "Committee on the Ombudsman, the Police Integrity Commission and the Crime Commission". Committees. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

External links

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