Media Releases

Complaints against Victoria Police up 14 per cent

Thursday 16 Mar 2023

IBAC's annual snapshot provides a valuable insight into the vital role IBAC plays in Victoria's police oversight system.

The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has released an annual snapshot of its police oversight role, highlighting a 14 per cent increase in complaints received against Victoria Police in 2022.

Deputy Commissioner Kylie Kilgour said the newly released data showed IBAC's work on overseeing, investigating, and exposing police corruption and misconduct in Victoria is increasing.

"Sixty-eight per cent of all complaints IBAC received in 2022 related to Victoria Police," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said.

"In 2022, IBAC completed 18 police related preliminary inquiries and investigations, in addition to commencing 11 new preliminary inquiries and investigations. This included six days of public hearings for Operation Bredbo, which investigated allegations of serious misconduct by a long-standing Victoria Police officer."

IBAC's police oversight role is a significant part of its jurisdiction and includes investigations of serious or systemic corruption or misconduct; reviews of misconduct investigations undertaken by Victoria Police; recommendations for significant changes to policy and practice; and overseeing police compliance with a range of legislation.

"IBAC reviewed 241 police internal investigations to ensure they had been investigated thoroughly and fairly – and that the ­findings were evidence based. This represents a 68 per cent increase from 2021," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said.

IBAC also plays an important role in preventing police corruption through the recommendations it makes for reform, research, awareness raising, information and education. 

Following investigations, reviews, audits and research reports, IBAC makes recommendations to Victoria Police to strengthen its policies and procedures to address systemic police misconduct and improve its conduct of internal investigations.

"IBAC made 90 new recommendations. Victoria Police implemented 36 previous recommendations, including changes to their conflict of interest policy. They also committed to adopting all the recommendations stemming from our research report on Victoria Police's handling of complaints made by Aboriginal people by the middle of 2023," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said.

IBAC ran 45 educations sessions for Victoria Police officers and released two research reports identifying deficiencies in police systems and processes.

IBAC also ran a regional-based campaign in 2022 to increase awareness about its police oversight role, which was viewed online more than 2 million times.

"IBAC recognises we could not achieve much of this work without the cooperation of the community, and Victoria Police employees, who alert us to misconduct or corruption," Deputy Commissioner Kilgour said.

"By releasing this infographic, we aim to inform the community about the breadth of our work to hold police accountable and encourage people to speak up about police misconduct."

Media

For media-related enquiries, please contact: media@ibac.vic.gov.au or 0427 480 840

 

  • IBAC's independent oversight of Victoria Police focuses on ensuring police act fairly and in accordance with the law.

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

    • receiving complaints/notifications about the 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, or dismissed.
    • reviewing the outcomes of Victoria Police internal investigations to check they have been investigated thoroughly and fairly. (These 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 (ie we do not need 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 of Parliament, including the Crimes Act, Drugs Poisons and Controlled Substances Act, Sex Offenders Registration Act, Witness Protection Act, 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.
    • developing and presenting education training for Victoria Police officers and employees.

Related resources

About IBAC
About IBAC
IBAC is Victoria's agency responsible for preventing and exposing public sector corruption and police misconduct. To report corruption or misconduct now, fill in our online form or call 1300 735 135.
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