Media Releases

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) will actively oversight a Victoria Police investigation into assault allegations which has resulted in the suspension of two senior constables from Transit and Public Safety Command.

Victoria Police notified IBAC when a Professional Standards Command (PSC) investigation was launched after a 58-year-old man was injured during an arrest in Narre Warren South shortly before 1.30am on Friday, 4 February, 2022.

The Narre Warren South man was taken to hospital for treatment and has since been released.

The two male officers, aged 34 and 45, were both suspended from duty today.

IBAC is Victoria's independent body responsible for preventing and exposing police misconduct. Beyond individual cases, IBAC continues to expose and seek to prevent use of force by police, and review the effectiveness of police investigations into use of force complaints.

Background

The breadth of IBAC's independent oversight of Victoria Police includes:

• receiving complaints/notifications about conduct of police personnel (including complaints received by Victoria Police, which are mandatorily reported to IBAC)
• assessing allegations about police misconduct to determine which are to be investigated by IBAC, referred to Victoria Police for action, and which are to be dismissed
• IBAC also reviews the outcomes of Victoria Police internal investigations to check they have been investigated thoroughly and fairly. Our reviews may result in recommendations for Victoria Police to strengthen its policies and procedures to address systemic police misconduct issues and risks and improve its conduct of internal investigations.
• conducting 'own-motion' investigations (i.e. we don’t have to have received a complaint) and we have a "standing own motion" in relation to deaths or serious injuries after police contact
• conducting investigations into serious or systemic police misconduct, including holding private or public examinations
• monitoring and ensuring Victoria Police acts in response to IBAC's investigations and reviews
• auditing how Victoria Police handles complaints
• overseeing Victoria Police's compliance with five Acts including the Crimes Act, Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, Sex Offenders Registration Act, Witness Protection Act and the Firearms Act and commencing in 2022 IBAC will also assume a compliance and reporting function in relation to Victoria Police's registration and management of human sources; and
• developing and presenting prevention education and training for Victoria Police officers and employees.