Media Releases

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) welcomes the release of the Government's consultation paper for the review of Victoria's police oversight system.

IBAC is Victoria's independent body responsible for preventing and exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct. Its jurisdiction covers state and local government, Parliament, the judiciary and Victoria Police.

Victoria's system for the oversight of police misconduct is vital to maintaining community confidence in police.

IBAC Commissioner, The Honourable Robert Redlich AM, QC said IBAC has engaged closely with Government since the 2018 IBAC Committee Report about the opportunities and challenges facing police oversight in Victoria.

"IBAC's police oversight role is a significant part of IBAC's jurisdiction and includes investigations, reviews of completed police investigations into police misconduct to ensure they are thorough and impartial, recommendations for significant policy and practice change and overseeing police compliance with a range of legislation.

"We would welcome the ability to do more, however, as we have informed the Government and said publicly many times, we cannot increase our oversight activities without additional funding and legislative change. Put simply, we cannot do more without more," Commissioner Redlich said.

"The 2018 IBAC Committee report found that IBAC's resources and powers have several limitations and recommended enhancing both. While IBAC has received some additional funding in recent budget cycles, it is not ongoing or commensurate with the growth in police numbers.

"The lack of powers and resources significantly impacts IBAC's ability to investigate some of the serious police misconduct complaints referred to us, as a result we have to be extremely selective in what we investigate," Commissioner Redlich said.

The Government's review also aims to improve the system of complaints about police misconduct, placing a stronger focus on the needs of complainants and victims of police misconduct.

"IBAC recognises the challenges faced by people making a complaint about suspected corruption or police misconduct. Over recent years IBAC has made important changes to our complaints handling to ensure we better focus on the complainant experience.  We recognise however that our efforts to communicate and build trust with all of Victoria's diverse communities will take time and require sustained effort – an aim, indeed responsibility, to which we are committed," Commissioner Redlich said.

IBAC will continue to engage with Government and stakeholders on this important review to ensure Victoria has a robust, transparent and best practice police oversight system that meets the needs of Victoria's diverse communities and maintains the highest standards of integrity and public trust in the police force.

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.

For more information on IBAC's investigations, prevention work and police oversight role please visit www.ibac.vic.gov.au or read our most recent Annual Report.

To make a complaint about corruption or police misconduct, visit www.ibac.vic.gov.au/report

Media contact: media@ibac.vic.gov.au or 0427 480 840