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Reporting Police Misconduct in Victoria
214 views • Oct 26, 2022
Reporting police misconduct (VIC)
Reports of police misconduct in Victoria can be made against officers in the police force as well as protective service officers (PSOs), public service employees of Victoria Police who work in administrative and professional roles, and police officers in training.
Making a complaint about police misconduct in Victoria
Police misconduct in Victoria is defined in the Victoria Police Act 2013 and the IBACA to include:
- the failure or refusal to perform duties
- behaving disgracefully or improperly whether on or off duty
- discrediting Victoria Police
- lessening public confidence in Victoria Police, or
- committing an offence which carries a jail term.
When making a complaint, please ensure you include all known details, such as:
- your name and contact details
- the name or names of any officer(s) or associated persons involved and their station
- the names of any witnesses and their contact details
- where and when the incident occurred
- what happened – try to give as much detail as possible
- any photos or documents you have to support your complaint, like photos of your injuries or invoices for damage
- the result you want from your complaint, such as an apology or reimbursement for damage.
Make sure you sign your complaint if you are putting it in writing and keep a copy of it.
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reporting police misconduct in Victoria
reports of police misconduct in Victoria
can be made against officers in the
police force as well as protective
service officers known as PS OHS public
service employees of Victoria Police who
work in administrative and professional
roles and police officers in training
where to report police misconduct in
Victoria three different bodies can deal
with complaints about the conduct of
police in Victoria if your complaint is
minor you should contact the station
commander at your local police station
or at the police station nearest to
where the incident occurred if your
matter is more serious a complaint can
be made to the police conduct unit of
the Victoria Police Professional
Standards Command known as the PSC or to
the independent broad-based
anti-corruption Commission or i-back if
you are unsure where to make your
complaint you can contact I back for
advice
it will either take on your complaint or
refer you to the appropriate body if
your complaint concerns racism
discrimination or human rights issues
you also have the right to complain to
the Victorian equal opportunity and
Human Rights Commission making a false
complaint or creating a false belief is
an offence under both the independent
broad-based anti-corruption Commission
Act 2011 or IBA CA and the Crimes Act
1958 making a complaint about police
misconduct in Victoria police misconduct
in Victoria is defined in the Victoria
Police Act 2013 and the iba CA to
include the failure or refusal to
perform duties behaving disgracefully or
improperly whether on or off duty
discrediting Victoria police lessening
public confidence in Victoria police or
committing an offence which carries a
jail term when making a complaint ensure
you include all known details such as
your name and contact details the name
or names of any officer or associated
persons involved and their station the
names of any witnesses and their contact
details where and when the incident
occurred
what happened try to give as much detail
as possible any photos or documents you
have to support your complaint like
photos of your injuries or invoices for
damage and the result you want from your
complaint such as an apology or
reimburse
for damage make sure you sign your
complaint if you are putting it in
writing and keep a copy of it complaints
to Professional Standards Command PSC if
you have a complaint about more serious
police misconduct in Victoria or if you
have spoken to the station commander and
still wish to make a formal complaint
you can do so by using the online form
the PSC is responsible for setting and
promoting high standards of practice
performance conduct and integrity within
Victoria Police it investigates
allegations of unethical behavior or
misconduct and is responsible for
education and training which enhances
the ethical health of the force
complaints to the independent
broad-based anti-corruption Commission
the Victorian anti-corruption Commission
Eibach has authority to investigate
complaints of poor police behavior
including serious misconduct and
corruption when a complaint is made by I
back they can either dismiss it makes
him further inquiries conduct a full
investigation if the complaint involves
serious misconduct or corruption or
refer it on if there is a more
appropriate body to investigate it you
can lodge a complaint online protected
disclosures sometimes a complaint will
be a protected disclosure complaint
these used to be known as whistleblower
complaints in these cases the person who
makes the complaint has legal
protections under the protected
disclosure Act 2012 or PDA if you are
concerned about the possibility of
repercussions as a result of making a
complaint of police misconduct in
Victoria you can request that it be
assessed as a protected disclosure under
the PDA the decision as to whether it is
a protected disclosure is made by i-back
if it is deemed protected your name
can’t ever be publicized you your family
friends and colleagues are protected
from being fired or bullied for making
the complaint you are protected from
defamation allegations or actions in
reprisal for making the disclosure you
are protected from civil or criminal
liability and administrative or
disciplinary action for making the
disclosure and you are protected from
charges under any law that imposes
confidentiality and for breaching any
other obligation that prevented or
restricted you from disclosing
certain information if your complaint
about police misconduct in Victoria is a
protected disclosure you can’t divulge
the details to anyone except your lawyer
an interpreter if required or if you’re
under 18 a parent or guardian additional
information is available from the
overseeing bodies if you are thinking of
making a protected disclosure setting up
the procedures and the guidelines for
your workplace to help you complain for
making and handling protected
disclosures and concerning your welfare
after a complaint what to do next if you
or someone you know wishes to report
police misconduct in Victoria or if you
are facing a criminal charge it is
important to obtain legal advice quickly
go to court lawyers operate a Legal
Hotline on 1300 midnight seven days a
week your call be treated with the
strictest confidentiality and without
judgement the lawyer will assess your
matter and recommend a course of action
should you need a lawyer even if it is
very short notice the Legal Hotline
staff will be able to arrange legal
representation for you you can also
request a call back via the website go
to court comm today you and a lawyer
will call you back to assess your matter
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