Reporting Misconduct
The PIC can investigate misconduct by police officers, civilian employees of the NSW Police Force, and officers of the NSW Crime Commission
Reporting Police Misconduct
What kind of police misconduct does the PIC investigate?
The PIC was set up to investigate the most serious forms of police misconduct. This includes serious police corruption. As an independent agency, the PIC has discretion in deciding the cases it investigates. But as a general guide, the PIC looks for information that may indicate police have been, or are, involved in:
- soliciting or accepting bribes
- perverting the course of justice (for example by planting evidence at a crime scene or interfering with a brief of evidence)
- serious assaults
- releasing confidential police information to criminals
- improperly interfering in police investigations
- improper relationships with criminals
- manufacturing, cultivating or supplying prohibited drugs
- crimes attracting a minimum of five years imprisonment (for example, serious fraud)
Less serious police misconduct such as the use of unreasonable force, traffic offences, failure to provide a satisfactory level of service and breaches of police rules and procedures should be reported to:
- the NSW Ombudsman’s Office – 580 George Street Sydney 2000, telephone: (02) 9286 1000 or toll free 1800 451 524
- the NSW Police Force Customer Assistance Unit toll free 1800 622 571 or by visiting your local police station
If you are unsure which agency you should contact you can call the PIC on the numbers provided below. The PIC’s Assessment Officers will be able to advise you on the most appropriate course of action.
How can I provide information on police misconduct?
Anyone can report police misconduct to the PIC and you can do so anonymous if you wish. If you provide your contact details, the PIC will be in touch to let you know it has received your report and then subsequently to inform you of its decision.
If you have information about police misconduct you should pass it onto the PIC. You can use the online facility via this website or write to the PIC at:
- GPO Box 3880 Sydney NSW 2001
- Facsimile: (02) 9321 6799
If you would like to talk to someone from the PIC about your options or to discuss any other aspect of reporting police misconduct, please contact:
- Telephone: (02) 9321 6700
- Freecall (if calling within Australia): 1800 657 079
What will happen to the information I provide?
All new reports regarding police misconduct are evaluated by the PIC. Reports from police officers and civilian employees of the NSW Police Force are assessed to see whether the protections offered under the Protected Disclosures Act are applicable. As the PIC is a small agency it cannot investigate everything brought to its attention. If the PIC decides not to investigate information you have provided, it will contact you to see whether you want the information provided to the NSW Police Force and the Ombudsman’s Office for those agencies to deal with.
The PIC preserves the confidentiality of the information reported to it in all but extraordinary circumstances where it is judged that it is important to the interests of the community that the information, or an extract of the information, is provided to the NSWPF or another agency. Further information can be obtained by contacting the PIC.
Reporting Misconduct by Civilian Employees of the NSW Police Force
In addition to investigating police officers, the PIC can also investigate misconduct by administrative officers – in other words non-sworn civilian officers – employed by the NSW Police Force. The Police Integrity Commission Act 1996 requires the PIC, as far as practicable, to turn its attention principally to serious misconduct by administrative officers of the NSW Police Force.
How can I report misconduct by an administrative employee of NSW Police Force?
Anyone can report misconduct by an administrative employee of NSW Police Force and you can do so anonymously if you wish. If you provide your contact details, the PIC will be in touch to let you know it has received your report and then subsequently to inform you of its decision.
If you have information about misconduct by an administrative employee of NSW Police Force you should pass it onto the PIC. You can use the online facility via this website or write to the PIC at:
- GPO Box 3880 Sydney NSW 2001
- Facsimile: (02) 9321 6799
If you would like to talk to someone from the PIC about your options or to discuss any other aspect of reporting serious police misconduct, please contact:
- Telephone: (02) 9321 6700
- Freecall: 1800 657 079
What will happen to the information I provide?
All new reports regarding police misconduct are evaluated by the PIC. Reports from police officers and administrative employees of the NSW Police Force are assessed to see whether the protections offered under the Protected Disclosures Act are applicable. As the PIC is a small agency it cannot investigate everything brought to its attention. If the PIC decides not to investigate information you have provided, it will contact you to see whether you want the information provided to the NSW Police Force for that agency to deal with.
The PIC preserves the confidentiality of the information reported to it in all but extraordinary circumstances where it is judged that it is important to the interests of the community that the information, or an extract of the information, is provided to the NSW Police Force or to another agency. Further information can be obtained by contacting the PIC.
Reporting Misconduct by Officers of the NSWCC
The PIC can investigate misconduct by officers of the NSW Crime Commission. The Police Integrity Commission Act 1996 requires the PIC to, as far as practicable turn its attention to serious misconduct by officers of the NSWCC.
How can I provide information on misconduct by NSW Crime Commission Officers?
Anyone can report misconduct by a NSW Crime Commission Officer and you can do so anonymously if you wish. If you provide your contact details, the PIC will be in touch to let you know it has received report and then subsequently to inform you of its decision.
If you have information about misconduct by NSW Crime Commission Officers you should pass it onto the PIC. You can use our online facility or write to the PIC at:
GPO Box 3880 Sydney NSW 2001
Facsimile (02) 9321 6799
Alternatively, you can phone the PIC on:
(02) 9321 6700
Freecall 1800 657 079
What will happen to the information I provide?
All new reports regarding misconduct by NSW Crime Commission officers are evaluated by the PIC. Amongst other things, all reports are assessed to see whether the protections offered under the Protected Disclosures Act are applicable. As the PIC is a small agency it cannot investigate everything brought to its attention. If the PIC decides not to investigate information you have provided, it will contact you to see whether you want the information provided to the NSW Crime Commission for that agency to deal with.
The PIC preserves the confidentiality of the information reported to it in all but extraordinary circumstances where it is judged that it is important to the interests of the community that the information, or an extract of the information, is provided to the NSW Crime Commission or to another agency. Further information can be obtained by contacting the PIC.