NCJ Number
194701
Date Published
2002
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This is the first of a series of reports by the New South Wales Ombudsman regarding key issues that relate to the Police Service's management of complaints against officers; it focuses on the need for police commanders to improve their management of officers with significant complaint histories.
Abstract
This report draws attention to a number of occasions when an officer's complaint history should have been more thoroughly considered by the Police Service. Preliminary research by the Ombudsman's Office indicates that in excess of 200 police officers have complaint histories that indicate they may present a significant risk to the Police Service and the community. Some of these officers have serious substantiated complaints against them, including criminal behavior. Others have between 20 and 40 complaints of varying degrees of seriousness. This report recommends that the Police Service implement a consistent and fair approach to ensure that all commanders are aware of the complaint histories of officers under their supervision; strategies should be developed for managing any officers assessed as high risk. The Police Service should also implement routine screening of the complaint histories of officers who transfer from one command to another. Further, the Police Service should provide appropriate access by investigators to relevant information on the complaint histories of officers, so as to better inform investigators' choice of investigative strategies. The Police Service should also implement the coordinated use of supplementary records and advice to better inform local commanders and investigators of the context of past and present complaints. Finally, the Police Service should institute safeguards against the inappropriate use of complaint histories in officer transfers and promotions.