Observations about Australian Police Culture
TOXICPOLICE.COM - A UNIQUE DATABASE OF AUSTRALIAN POLICE MISCONDUCT
This page lists articles and references covering a range of topics discussing cultural, process and management issues faced by all Australian police jurisdictions. It also provides links to published articles of note not catalogued under a misconduct heading, research and other resources and opinions of note, and reports senior police appointments and movements.
Trending Topics - Year to June 2026
Anecdotally, key topics being discussed around Australia in relation to police misconduct and toxic culture:
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Rise in misconduct allegations overall
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Police brutality
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Civil court claims against police costing taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and police officer psychological injury compensation costs more than $1.7 billion between 2019 and 2024 (NSW alone)
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Use of tasers and other 'non-lethal' weapons, and mandatory use of body-worn cameras
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A high incidence of bullying, harassment, alongside informal punishment of any officer who doesn't protect their colleagues in cases of misconduct.
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High turnover / sick leave of serving officers and continuing recruitment challenges. Mental health issues and disturbing suicide instances amongst serving officers.
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Limited powers of independent police watchdogs
Reference Text on Australian police culture
With increasing evidence that Australian police forces in a number of jurisdictions are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and retain sworn officers because of the police's mixed public image, social forces may demand change. An interesting reference is Veronica Gorrie's book "When Cops Are Criminals" whose predominant theme is that police and policing in Australia are systemically corrupt and abusive (YouTube video HERE). Experiences of police misconduct and criminal behaviours – from racial profiling to sexual assault and family violence – are shown to be normalised, multi-jurisdictional, and persistent.
Classic pattern of Australian Police misconduct and subsequent behaviours to avoid punishment
Analysis of published twentieth-century Australian police misconduct cases demonstrates a repeating pattern of police behaviours and toxic culture in a large number of cases, across all misconduct categories (demonstrating all or many of the listed behaviours):
Example: excessive violence towards a member of the public.
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Officers fail to follow required processes for the situation and make a false arrest. Body-worn cameras may or may not be used as required by formal processes.
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Officers escalate the situation unnecessarily and apply excessive force to a person, leading to injury, sometimes severe.
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To explain the victim's injuries, police at the scene collude to protect the violent officer(s) behaviour. Can include hiding existence of body-worn camera evidence. Any colleague not supporting the team will face unofficial punishment in the form of ostracism, abuse or other toxic behaviours by colleagues.
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The officers charge the victim and submit false evidence to the criminal court. The court may rule in the police's favour.
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if the criminal court rules in favour of the victim, they may pursue civil action against the police officers involved. In many cases the victims win: resulting in tens of millions of dollars of taxpayers' money being spent to cover legal fees and victim compensation - in 2024-2025 New South Wales Police alone cost the taxpayers $40m for this.
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Irrespective of the courts outcomes, police internal investigations absolve the officers of any misconduct and / or apply minimal punishments.
Far-fetched? Here's a recent serious example of these behaviours: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-gczCNMChjg&t=598s
Australian Government Productivity Commission Report on Government Services
This is a key report for researchers. The Report on Government Services 2025 is an annual national report that evaluates the performance of major public services delivered by Australian federal, state, and territory governments. It uses comparative data and indicators to assess how efficiently, effectively, and equitably these services are delivered, helping inform policy decisions, government accountability, and improvements across the various services. The latest (2025) report includes the following police datasets:
Some extracts from the data:
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Opinions on statement 'police perform job professionally' - Totally Agree - range from 64.7 +/- 2.5 (New South Wales) to 77.5+/- 2.5 (Australian Capital Territory).
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Opinions on statement 'police treat people fairly and equally' - Totally Agree - range from 45.8 +/- 2.6 (New South Wales) to 66.8 +/- 2.6 (Tasmania).
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Opinions on statement 'police are honest' - Totally Agree range from 50.5 +/- 2.6 (New South Wales) to 66.4 +/- 2.8 (Australian Capital Territory).
Some headline interpretations from the Police Services data tables (excludes the Australian Federal Police):
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Between two-thirds and three quarters of Australians interviewed believe their police forces perform their job professionally.
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In contrast, and notably, only between half and two-thirds of interviewees agree that Australian police treat people fairly and equally and are honest.
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New South Wales Police, followed by Victoria Police, ranked least trusted (assigning equal weighting to 'treat people fairly and equally' and 'honest" categories), South Australia and ACT Police the most trusted.
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For West Australian Police, only around 51% of interviewees say police treat people fairly and equally, fairing slightly better on police honesty, around 58%.
Summary graph of police integrity survey:
The Independent Police Watchdog model Australia needs
ABOUT THE UK INDEPENDENT OFFICE FOR POLICE CONDUCT (IOPC)
The UK provides the closest model to what toxicpolice.com advocates, because it solves the "Circular Accountability" problem. In the UK, if the IOPC says there is a "case to answer," the Commissioner's subjective opinion on the officer's reputation is legally secondary to the watchdog's direction.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has powers that far exceed their Australian counterparts:
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Legally Binding Directions: Unlike Australian watchdogs, the IOPC can direct a Chief Constable (Commissioner) to hold a misconduct hearing. If the Commissioner disagrees with the IOPC’s findings, they cannot simply veto them; the IOPC has the power to override that decision and ensure the hearing proceeds.
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Independent Adjudication: For "Gross Misconduct" cases (those that can lead to dismissal), the hearing is not just a private chat with the Commissioner. Since 2016, these have been chaired by Legally Qualified Chairs (LQCs)—independent lawyers—rather than police officers. This removes the "police investigating police" conflict at the final decision stage.
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The "Power of Initiative": The IOPC can start its own investigations without waiting for a police force to refer a matter to them, preventing forces from "burying" incidents at the start.
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS STANDARDS
Human rights standards demand that the investigation of human rights abuses is conducted by a body that is:
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Independent of the police (that is, hierarchically, institutionally and practically).
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Capable of conducting an adequate investigation (i.e. is able to ascertain whether the actions of the police breach legal or disciplinary standards and whether police practices are in compliance with human rights)
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Prompt.
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Open to public scrutiny.
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Victim-centred and enables the victim to fully participate in the investigation, and
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State initiated.
These standards are mandated under international law and, in Victoria and the ACT, through their human rights charters. On 2 April 2009 the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) observed that Australian police must be independently investigated where allegations of abuses are made, and prosecuted and sanctioned when criminal conduct, disciplinary offences or human rights abuses are exposed."
https://policeaccountability.org.au/issues-and-cases/independent-investigations/
Multiple published articles highlight the fact that Australian police forces make many decisions themselves about their officers' misconduct, frequently ignoring the independent watchdogs' recommendations and concerns raised by observers, including state-level politicians. The processes in place to investigate police misconduct (See "About the Independent Watchdogs" below) fail the international human right standards. In so many cases police forces' reputations are prioritised above justice for victims of police misconduct, and police continue to continue their misconduct with impunity.
Police Misconduct and Toxic Culture is a Global phenonemon
ToxicPolice.com is focused on Australian police misconduct and toxic culture. It's a global phenomenon, for example with striking similarities reported from the UK.
THE BBC PANORAMA PROGRAM GOES UNDERCOVER TO EXPOSE RACISM, MISOGYNY AND VIOLENT ATTITUDES AMONG SERVING MET POLICE OFFICERS - 2025 UNITED KINGDOM
https://share.google/QoM20IX4B1DefBg2F
Reports of misogyny and sexual harassment in the Metropolitan Police, published by the British House of Commons library.
https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CDP-2022-0046/CDP-2022-0046.pdf
BRITISH PRIME MINISTER KEIR STARMER ON THURSDAY CALLS FOR A "ROBUST" RESPONSE BY HEAD OF LONDON'S METROPOLITAN POLICE - 2025 UNITED KINGDOM
MISCONDUCT999
Misconduct999 - a dedicated resource tracking police misconduct hearings and officer-involved prosecutions in England and Wales.
AND FROM THE U.S. , COP TALK LIVE, FOCUSED ON CHANGING U.S. POLICE CULTURE
International Observations
A range of articles have been published internationally about Australian police toxic culture and misconduct since 2020 which reflect badly on Australia in the international community. Consistent themes emerge:
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Systemic misuse of police powers (especially data access)
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Weak accountability / investigations dropped
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Excessive force at protests
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Failures in domestic violence policing
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Racism and cultural misconduct inside forces
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Indigenous deaths in custody as a recurring global concern.
The Human cost of Australian policing - police suicides and psychological injury
103 serving Australian police officers died by suicide between 2000 and 2020. These are the findings of a [2023] national report compiled by the union representing police in Western Australia, which relies on internal data such as “vale notices” and information on the public record, including newspaper reports to chronicle suicides by police. In 2022, 11 serving officers died by suicide: equal to the record set in 2019, according to the report. Rates of suicide among serving police more than doubled from 5.9 suicides per 100,000 serving officers in 2000 to 12.5 suicides per 100,000 by 2020. The report suggested it was more pertinent though to compare the rates of officers who died on the job compared to those who died by suicide. It found that since 2007, the rate of deaths by suicide had surpassed the rate of officers killed on duty. See HERE.
Additionally, An auditor-general report has found nearly 75 per cent of NSW Police compensation costs, alone, over a five-year period were psychological injury claims. The force spent more than $1.7 billion on these claims between mid-2019 and mid-2024. See HERE.
Emails to WA Police Minister Reece Whitby from November 2025
26/4/2026
Minister Whitby, I wrote to you last November, per email below, and am yet to receive a reply. I would like one.
In addition, I request your response to the following matter: earlier this year, the federal government published its annual Productivity Commission Report on Government Services (2025). The section relating to police service provides data on surveyed public perceptions of Australian police jurisdictions (Table 6A.9). For WAPOL, the survey results show:
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69.4 % (+/- 3.0%) believe 'police perform job professionally'
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51.3% (+/- 3.1%) believe 'police treat people fairly and equally'
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58.3% (+ / -) believe 'police are honest'
In short, around 30% of West Australian don't support the first proposition, nearly half don't support the second and over 40% don't support the third.
These are concerning results. What do you plan to do about this? This correspondence is published at www.toxicpolice.com , a site visited by hundreds of Australians monthly, as well as international visitors. I await your reply to publish it, for full transparency.
Sent: Sunday, 16 November 2025 6:09 PM
To: Minister.Whitby@dpc.wa.gov.au <Minister.Whitby@dpc.wa.gov.au>
Subject: Time to make WA Police Commissioner answerable to the CCC
Dear Minister, there is longstanding evidence that across all state police jurisdictions, WA included, police commissioners ignore the independent watchdog recommendations in relation to charging and disciplining officers for misconduct. This is well-documented at www.toxicpolice.com , including a recent WA case where an off-duty officer was videoed attacking another driver in a road rage incident. Despite CCC recommendation, Col Blanch declined to take action with absolutely no justification. WA Police cannot expect public trust when they arrogantly act as if above the law with impunity, nor does it reflect well on you as police minister.
When are you going to make WAPOL answerable to the CCC so that public funding of the latter delivers consistently just outcomes and value for money?
2 June 2026
Reece Whitby failed to respond to our two emails over the last seven months, so we wrote to the state MP covering Bibra Lake, SookYee Lai, who contacted Whitby's office and elicited a response:
From: SookYee.Lai <SookYee.Lai@mp.wa.gov.au>
Sent: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 12:25:40 PM
Subject: RE: Public perceptions of WA Police
Good Afternoon ...
Thank you for your email to Ms Lai regarding correspondence sent to Minister Whitby’s office in his capacity as the Minister for Police.
We appreciate your patience as we get back to you with a response. Our office has been advised by Minister Whitby’s team that WAPOL will respond to your enquiry in due course. We trust that this information is of assistance.
Kind Regards,
Team Sook Yee Lai
Office of Sook Yee Lai MLA | Member for Bibra Lake
Australian Observations
INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG TO PROBE COMPLAINTS AGAINST WA JUDGES UNDER NEW LEGISLATION - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
[This article is listed as another example of an independent watchdog being established using taxpayers money in WA with limited powers, with close parallels to the police independent watchdog scenario. Would you buy a dog with no teeth?]
The WA government will introduce legislation to establish an independent Judicial Commission, which will handle complaints about judges and magistrates. Any person or organisation can make a complaint about the conduct or capacity of judges but the commission will not be able to investigate the merits of a decision or sentence.
MEDICAL CARE MARK BOMBARA RECEIVED BEFORE FLOREAT MURDER TO BE EXAMINED BY INQUEST - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA [See MARK BOMBARA MURDERS OF JENNIFER AND GRETL PETELCZYC - WESTERN AUSTRALIA on Extremes page]
A coronial inquest into the double murder of Jennifer Petelczyc and her daughter Gretl will examine the medical care Mark Bombara received before he shot them in their Floreat home. WA's acting coroner says it is hoped the inquest will begin later this year, and that it will also examine police actions, firearm laws and family and domestic violence.
NSW POLICE PUSHED TO FIND 'ROOT CAUSE' OF PSYCHOLOGICAL INJURY CLAIMS, OFFICERS ALLEGE BULLYING, HARASSMENT - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
An auditor-general report has found nearly 75 per cent of NSW Police compensation costs over a five-year period were psychological injury claims. The force spent more than $1.7 billion on these claims between mid-2019 and mid-2024.
NSW POLICE FORCE ACCEPTS ALL RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT CULTURAL REVIEW - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
The NSW Police Force has today (Thursday 11 June 2026), released the Independent Cultural Review, accepting all 29 recommendations. The release coincides with initiatives already underway to build a fairer and safer workplace. The 29 recommendations are across seven key themes:
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Trusted leadership
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Attraction, recruitment and the Academy
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Talent development and career progression
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Flexibility in a modern organisation
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Addressing harmful behaviours
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Support and care
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Modern systems
REPORT FINDS BULLYING AND HARASSMENT WITHIN NSW POLICE FORCE, AFTER CULTURE REVIEW PROMPTED BY ABC INVESTIGATION - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
The findings from a NSW Police independent culture review have been released. The review was launched in response to an ABC investigation which uncovered widespread allegations of bullying, harassment and discrimination.
Former officers who blew the whistle on NSW Police's toxic culture react to report findings - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Former officers who blew the whistle on NSW Police's toxic culture have welcomed an independent report "validating" their experiences. The NSW Police independent culture review found unacceptable levels of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment within the force. Former senior sergeant Mel Cooper says she is thankful to have been involved in the review.
‘Punished’ for speaking up: culture of bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination in NSW police - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES & NATIONAL
Scathing report exposes toxic NSW Police culture - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Landmark culture review finds glaring examples of widespread bullying and harassment in NSW Police Force - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Scathing report exposes toxic NSW Police culture - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
The NSW Police culture review isn’t shocking to me - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
What’s shocking is watching the public act surprised. Because when I reported what happened to me after 10 years serving in that uniform, I wasn’t called brave. I was called a liar. I reported being SA’d on duty. I reported being assaulted inside a police station. I reported having a firearm held to my head by a colleague ...
https://www.facebook.com/100063542226326/posts/1701130755348316/?rdid=jgl2YiufJGvvBHAa
The shocking footage we saw on Four Corners barely scratches the surface of police violence and use of force I have seen across New South Wales in the last few years - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1023031436812190
'Scared, humiliated': senior police blamed for culture - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Police in leadership roles are behind the majority of bullying behaviour found to be endemic throughout the NSW police force. Despite being rampant, bullying, sexual harassment and discrimination within the police force are going largely unreported, a wide-ranging review revealed on Thursday.Failures of leadership and culture were blamed for allowing these "unacceptable behaviours" to flourish.
SA POLICE CIVIL CLAIMS HIT $2.5M AS PAYOUTS SURGE - 2026 SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Newly released data shows that South Australia Police paid approximately $2.46 million in civil claims and motor vehicle claims over the past five financial years. The report notes a substantial increase in civil claims against SA Police, including allegations such as unlawful arrest, assault and false imprisonment, prompting calls for greater transparency regarding police misconduct settlements.
REVEALED: THE 'LESS LETHAL' WEAPONS AUSTRALIAN POLICE DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW ABOUT - 2026 NATIONAL
Projectiles that release powder designed to burn the eyes and throat. Flashbang grenades. Teargas. Launchers that resemble semi-automatic rifles. Often dubbed “less lethal”, these weapons can cause serious injuries or even death if misused – but they are deployed by police against crowds in Australia with little scrutiny. “All of these weapons can kill people,” says Rohini Haar, a medical adviser at Physicians for Human Rights who has researched their health impacts on protesters around the world. Haar says there is “almost zero” regulation globally of the industry that produces these weapons. In Australia, there are no nationally enforced standards for their use. In some states, police go to great lengths not to share what weapons they have or how they’re used.
MODERN SLAVERY VICTIMS LET DOWN BY JUSTICE SYSTEM, WITH 1PC OD REPORTS RESULTING IN CONVICTIONS - 2026 NATIONAL
A new national report prepared for the office of the Australian anti-slavery commissioner has found modern slavery victims are being let down by the justice system. About 1 per cent of modern slavery reports result in convictions. One victim-survivor says there needs to be a better understanding among police of what constitutes exploitation.
'MASTERCLASS IN MOVING GOALPOSTS': THE DATA MISTAKE VICTORIA POLICE USED TO JUSTIFY LOCKING STATIONS - 2026 VICTORIA
Police bosses are trying to sell locked cop shops as a win for community safety. But a closer look at their bungled math proves otherwise, writes Grace Frost. Watch the behind-the-scenes video.
PERTH MAN WANTS COMPENSATION OVER DAMAGE TO APARTMENT DURING MURDER INVESTIGATION - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Troy Coward's East Perth apartment was the scene of a brutal murder in 2012, when his tenant was shot and the body dismembered inside the dwelling. Mr Coward said the subsequent police forensic examination of the apartment left serious damage, and the chemicals used affected his health. He is demanding compensation from the state government, a battle he has been fighting for more than 13 years.
TASMANIA'S POLICE MINISTER UNRESERVEDLY APOLOGISES AFTER PORT ARTHUR SURVIVOR LABELS HIS COMMENTS 'HURTFUL' - 2026 TASMANIA
Tasmania's police minister has apologised for comments he made during budget estimates about the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in which he named the gunman. A survivor of Port Arthur has described the comments as "hurtful" and indicative of a person who doesn't understand Tasmania.
VICTORIA POLICE CHIEF MIKE BUSH SAYS FIREBOMBINGS WILL STOP WHEN POLICE WORK THEIR WAY TO 'TOP OF THE TREE' - 2026 VICTORIA [INCLUDES DISCUSSION OF POLICE RETHINKING STATION STAFFING AND OPERATIONS] - 2026 VICTORIA
...
Following Victoria Police's decision last week to cut police stations hours at some Melbourne stations, Commissioner Bush said the organisation was re-evaluating how it would staff police stations. He said that while police stations were reassuring to the public, they also represented a problem to policing: cops sitting behind desks.
INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL REVIEW OF QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE REFERRED TO THE CRIME AND CORRUPTION COMMISSION - 2026 QUEENSLAND
An independent review that found Queensland's police service defied government priorities and allocated money to purposes other than what was intended has been referred to the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC). The review, which has made 21 recommendations, also found the QPS had a forecast deficit of $400 million for the 2026 financial year.
NSW POLICE FLAGS MOVE TO MANDATORY USE OF BODY-WORN CAMERAS AFTER FOUR CORNERS INVESTIGATION - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Officers using a police power will be obliged to immediately start recording using body-worn cameras, under operating changes flagged by NSW Police. It comes after a Four Corners investigation revealed a number of disturbing cases of police brutality since 2020. The change will bring NSW into line with all other Australian states except for WA, which maintains a discretionary approach to body-worn camera use.
WHEN THE BIGGEST DRUG SEIZURE IN AUSTRALIAN HISTORY NEARLY DIDN'T HAPPEN DUE TO A SPAT BETWEEN THE U.S. DEA, AFP AND WAPOL - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA AND AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Up Late Wednesday: In tonight’s show, Ben Harvey gives a rundown of why Australia’s biggest ever drug operation almost didn’t happen, not because of faulty intelligence or clever cartels but because of a jurisdictional sh*tfight between State and Federal cops, as revealed in true crime podcast ‘Behind The White Line’.
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1039428861747468
WHEN POLICE CHARGED FOOTBALLER TOM STARLING WITH ASSAULT, ONE DETECTIVE BROKE RANKS - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
As rugby league player Tom Starling, torn shirt, bloodied face and concussed, paced his police cell, a veteran detective's phone started to ring. ... Hayward, who spent 23 years in the NSW police, is speaking publicly about the Starling incident for the first time because he believes he witnessed a failure of the system to hold officers to account.
Tom Starling's lawyer, Samar Singh-Parwar told Four Corners some of his clients have entered guilty pleas for offences they did not commit because they did not have the ‘resilience’ or ‘resources’ to go up against police in court - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1011114085199687
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1029270416206752
TASMANIA POLICE 'OPEN' TO LEARNING FROM VOLUNTEER GROUP THAT HAS FOUND REMAINS IN TWO MISSING PERSON CASES - 2026 TASMANIA
Remains were found yesterday during a renewed search for missing Scottsdale man Peter Willoughby. The group of volunteer searchers that made the discovery also found the remains of missing Belgian tourist Celine Cremer earlier this year. Tasmania Police has defended the initial search effort, and Inspector Aleena Crack says officers are open to discussions with the volunteer group "as to what their methods were".
TASER TACTICS - 2026 NATIONAL
Police across Australia have embraced tasers over the past two decades. The weapons are meant to be a safer way to stop dangerous situations, without taking a life. But people are still dying. This week Four Corners reveals the secretive tactics behind investigations into controversial deaths, and the role played by the device's manufacturer, Axon. Reported by Grace Tobin from the ABC's Investigative Reporting Team, Taser Tactics features an in-depth interview with the family of 95-year-old Clare Nowland, who died after being tasered in a nursing home in 2023, as well as shocking footage of a farmer being tasered within seconds of a police encounter on private property.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-04/taser-tactics/106640442
CORONIAL INQUEST PROBES NSW POLICE STAFFING LEVELS AND MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
A coronial inquest into the suicide of a NSW Police probationary constable has heard differing opinions about whether his death was "directly connected" to his work. The young officer was posted far from home to a remote location in Western NSW with staff shortages and a lack of community resources.
SAPOL COMMISSIONER REJECTS INCENTIVE PLAN TO ATTRACT OFFICERS TO 'UNDERSTAFFED' OUTBACK TOWN - 2026 SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has rejected non-binding recommendations from the Employment Tribunal to attract more officers to the understaffed Coober Pedy station. The station is continuing to struggle with staffing issues, previously operating "with less than half its required manpower".
NUMBER OF VICTORIA POLICE OFFICERS DECLINES FURTHER UNDER PREMIER ALLEN - 2026 VICTORIA
[VICTORIAN LIBERAL PARTY ARTICLE]
Victoria's crime crisis continues to worsen under Labor as new data confirms there are now 367.7 fewer full time equivalent (FTE) Victoria Police officers than when Jacinta Allan became Premier. New Victoria Police employee numbers by location data has confirmed 15,601.75 FTE officers as of December 2025, down from 15,969.45 in September 2023 - the same month Jacinta Allan became Premier.
Victorian police suffer from staffing crisis - 2026 VICTORIA
Some Victorian police stations will be shut for up to 5 days a week, as the force experiences a staffing crisis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P-Dd7fSvraw
Reception hours slashed at police stations in Melbourne's outer-north - 2026 VICTORIA
Reception hours will be reduced at police stations in Mernda, Mill Park and Whittlesea in Melbourne's outer north from this weekend. Victoria Police has defended the decision, arguing the move will mean more police on the road. The Police Association and Victorian opposition have criticised the decision.
VICTORIA POLICE SETTLE DEBATE AFTER COP PHOTO GOES VIRAL - 2026 VICTORIA
A seemingly mundane photo of three police officers walking through Melbourne has sparked conversation online after one appeared to be much shorter than his two colleagues. The photo shared on Facebook showed the officers walking outside the state library on Swanston Street in the CBD, with the middle officer as tall as the shoulders of the other two. Some Aussies have since expressed concerns, wondering whether there were height requirements to join the police force.
'WE WANT TO TELL YOU': IBAC CHIEF WARNS VICTORIANS ARE BEING KEPT IN THE DARK - 2026 VICTORIA
Victoria’s corruption watchdog boss has issued an explosive warning that Victorian’s are being kept in the dark as the government refuses to strengthen legislation. The piece discusses ongoing debates about the watchdog’s powers and public reporting limitations.
NSW POLICE ASSOCIATION PUSHES FOR NIGHT COURTS TO EASE PRESSURE ON FRONTLINE OFFICERS - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
The union representing NSW Police officers is calling for a "night court" to be established. It says the move would increase holding cell capacity and allow officers to return to duty more quickly.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-19/nsw-police-union-calls-for-night-court/106695660
WOMAN DIES AFTER BEING STRUCK BY POLICE CAR IN CAIRNS - 2026 QUEENSLAND
A 71-year-old woman has died after being hit by a police car in Cairns this morning.
Police said a police vehicle collided with the Trinity Beach woman at the intersection of Lily and Sheridan Streets around 7am ...
Speaking to media in Brisbane, Regional Operations Deputy Commissioner John Tims said investigations were underway to determine "exactly how this incident has occurred". "There will be a full, thorough investigation by Ethical Standards Command with the oversight by the Crime and Corruption Commission and the coroner," he said.
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE FACES DEEPENING INTEGRITY CRISIS AS MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS SURGE - 2026 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Australia’s federal law enforcement agency is confronting a serious credibility challenge after misconduct allegations within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) almost tripled in just three years, according to figures revealed in an exclusive investigation. Data shows alleged conduct issues rose sharply from 279 cases in 2021–22 to 763 cases in 2024–25, representing a 173 per cent increase. The most alarming rise has been in serious misconduct, known internally as Category 3 allegations, which surged from 93 to 473 cases over the same period. The allegations span a wide range of serious behaviour, including links to drug trafficking networks, failed drug tests, conduct that endangered partners, and the misuse of seized cryptocurrency ... Despite the growing number of allegations, the data reveals a paradox: fewer cases are being formally established as breaches. In 2020–21, nearly one in three finalised allegations resulted in an established breach. By 2024–25, that figure had fallen to roughly one in five.
OVERVIEW OF SERIOUS MISCONDUCT - YEAR IN REVIEW 2024-2025 - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
During the 2024 – 2025 financial year, the [Corruption and Crime ] Commission received 2,980 reports and notifications of alleged serious misconduct and police misconduct. 2,433 allegations were assessed, a reasonable suspicion of misconduct was formed in relation to 866 (36%) of the allegations. Of the allegations where a suspicion of misconduct was formed, 704 (81%) were referred to WA Police for action or the outcome recorded where already available. WA Police provided the outcomes of 782 allegations of misconduct that it investigated during the year. Over half (56%) of these were sustained. Of the sustained allegations against officers of WA Police, 152 incurred a disciplinary action and 261 an improvement action. A reprimand was the most commonly implemented disciplinary action.
https://ccc.wa.gov.au/publications/overview-serious-misconduct-year-review-2024-2025
POREPUNKAH PROPERTY OWNER MAKES NEW CLAIMS ABOUT FREEMAN INCIDENT - 2026 VICTORIA
The owner of the Porepunkah property where Dezi Freeman shot two police officers says he filmed the entire incident, but that his phone with the footage was confiscated by police. The account is contained in an hour-long video shot in October 2025, two months after the incident, and was released by a group who Andrew Swift had met at a festival in the days leading up to the shooting.
VICTORIA POLICE DOUBLES RECRUIT INTAKE TO 1,300 A YEAR AS IT TRIED TO FILL HUNDREDS OF VACANCIES - 2026 VICTORIA
Victoria Police is doubling its intake of recruits as it tries to fill 1,500 vacancies across the state. The number of recruits to be trained at the academy will increase by 650 to 1,300 a year. Victoria's crime rate is at a 10-year high, driven by an increase in car thefts and youth crime. Victoria Police said 8,700 people applied to become a police officer last year, which was the highest number for at least five years. However, it is still struggling to fill vacancies and said it was working hard to retain existing police.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-01/victoria-police-to-double-recruits/106629028
IMPACT OF QUEENSLAND'S COERCIVE CONTROL LAWS NOT YET CLEAR ONE YEAR AFTER IMPLEMENTATION - 2026 QUEENSLAND
It took months for Stephanie* to find the courage to call Queensland police and report coercive controlling behaviour by her ex-partner. When she got through to an officer at a Brisbane police station, she said she was told "no one has really been convicted because coercive control is too hard to prove" and it was "unlikely a case would ever succeed".
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-01/concerns-raised-qld-coercive-control-laws-one-year/106616588
THE BONDI ROYAL COMMISSION INTERIM REPORT IS CAREFUL BUT ULTIMATELY DAMNING - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES & NATIONAL
By Hanukkah 2025, Australia had grown dangerously complacent about terrorism — and about the safety of the Jewish community. That is the message beneath the restrained language of Justice Virginia Bell's interim report of the royal commission investigating last December's terrorist attack at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil. The report does not declare any intelligence or policing failure or apportion blame for the attack. It documents a shrinking share of funding, failures in coordination, gaps in information-sharing across state and federal agencies, an out-of-date national plan, and most starkly, an apparent failure by NSW Police to heed warnings to protect a Jewish community event.
NSW POLICE UNDER SCRUTINY OVER RESOURCES ALLOCATED TO TARGETED BONDI BEACH HANUKKAH EVENT - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW Police were present at a Hanukkah celebration targeted in a deadly terror attack last year, but officers were told they were not required for the entirety of the event. Details of the police resource allocation on the night of the attack have been revealed by the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion. NSW Police said it was reviewing the commission's interim findings.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-30/nsw-police-resources-bondi-hannukah-event-scrutiny/106626222
MELBOURNE PHARMACY OWNER, 65, BRUTALLY ASSAULTED IN THE MIDDLE OF HIS OWN STORE - 2026 VICTORIA
A Melbourne pharmacy owner has been left with facial injuries after being brutally assaulted in his own store.
Russell Frajman, 65, had been attempting to remove a customer from his pharmacy on Fitzroy Street in St Kilda about 12.47pm yesterday, when he was subjected to a vicious attack ... Charlotte earlier told 3AW they waited five hours for police to arrive at the scene after the assault. Frajman eventually attended the police station himself to report the assault.
SENIOR SA POLICE OFFICER UNDER INVESTIGATION OVER MISCONDUCT ALLEGATION, ICAC SAYS - 2026 SOUTH AUSTRALIA
South Australia's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) is investigating whether a senior police officer "committed a breach of discipline". The investigation, which is not a corruption probe, comes after a report of alleged misconduct referred to ICAC on April 2. ICAC says the matter warranted an independent investigation to maintain "public confidence in SA Police".
QUEENSLAND POLICE SERVICE TO TEST ALL GLOCK HANDGUNS ISSUED TO OFFICERS AFTER FAULT IDENTIFIED - 2026 QUEENSLAND
The Queensland Police Service will test every service-issued Glock handgun used by officers in the field after a fault was identified in routine testing. QPS says handguns that have not yet been tested for the issue will remain in use by officers in the field, and firearms that pass testing will be redeployed.
https://share.google/P0ZIPUWZqY14bnS4H
SUPPORT SERVICES NATIONWIDE 'BUCKLING UNDER DEMAND' DURING SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH - 2026 NATIONAL
A national discussion about sexual violence is long overdue, according to Nicole Lambert, chair of the National Association of Services Against Sexual Violence (NASASV). An estimated 89,400 people aged 18 and over experienced sexual assault across Australia in 2024-2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). James Geoffrey Griffin had been the subject of multiple allegations of abuse ... Tasmania Police received information about potential child abuse perpetrated by Griffin in 2009, 2011, 2013 and 2015, according to an internal review. Ms McMahon, now 29, still grapples with the amount of time it took for someone to take action against the nurse.
CHILDREN TO BE HELD IN POLICE WATCH HOUSES FOR UP TO 48 HOURS UNDER NT YOUTH JUSTICE CHANGES - 2026 NORTHERN TERRITORY
The Northern Territory government has introduced changes to youth justice laws that would allow police to hold youths in watch houses for up to 48 hours and question them without an adult present. The North Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency has raised concerns the amendments could expose children to increased trauma and infringe on their right to silence. The bill will be debated in NT parliament later this year.
NT laws to allow police to hold young people for 48 hours will be ‘funnelling Aboriginal children into prisons’, advocates warn - 2026 NORTHERN TERRITORY
Police will be able to question children without an adult present and hold them after being charged under draft laws introduced by the CLP.
TEENAGER DIES AFTER FALLING DURING POLICE OPERATION IN QUEENSLAND - 2026 QUEENSLAND
An 18-year-old man has died after sustaining serious injuries when he fell from a balcony during a police operation in Queensland. Queensland police’s ethical standards command is investigating the death in Spring Hill on Saturday evening. In a statement, police said officers had attended an address about 5.50pm, “following reports of a wanted person being spotted”.
NSW POLICE OVERUSING 'HIGHLY INTRUSIVE' LEGAL POWERS TO MONITOR PHONES AND COMPUTERS, NATIONAL WATCHDOG FINDS - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
The New South Wales police force is overusing intrusive technology to monitor the phones and computers of people suspected of committing less serious crime, the commonwealth ombudsman has found. The watchdog said Victoria and Queensland police were not keeping sufficient records to justify their use of the electronic surveillance powers, while NSW police “were unable to demonstrate” they were meeting the requirements of the Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979.
AUSTRALIAN POLICE OFFICERS CAN BE TRACKED DUE TO A SECURITY FLAW IN TASERS AND BODY-WORN CAMERAS - 2026 NATIONAL
Bluetooth-enabled tasers and body-worn cameras, used by thousands of Australian police officers, can inadvertently reveal their real-time location to any criminal with a phone or laptop. Police services around the country have been warned of the security flaw. But despite the safety risks, especially to officers who are undercover, in tactical units or who take their equipment home, none appear to have acted.
Police unions demand answers over taser security flaw that exposes location of officers - 2026 NATIONAL
Police unions are demanding urgent action to protect officers following the revelation that a security flaw with Axon tasers and body-worn cameras allows officers to be tracked.
Police advised to disable bluetooth on Axon body-worn cameras to avoid detection by criminals - 2026 VICTORIA
On Monday night, Victoria Police issued an urgent safety alert to its members, advising them to take precautionary measures including deactivating body-worn cameras during raids and covert work, after Four Corners exposed a security flaw with the devices.
The advice has since been updated to include a "flight mode" option when detection is a risk.
FAMILY OF 95 yo CLARE NOWLAND, WHO DIED AFTER BEING TASERED, HOPE INQUEST WILL LEAD TO CHANGE - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
It's the question that still keeps Mick Nowland awake at night. "Why did it have to happen?" Why was his mother Clare tasered by a police officer in her nursing home? What's to stop it happening to someone else? The eldest of Clare Nowland's eight children, Mick has spoken to Four Corners as part of an investigation into the use of tasers by police in Australia. The investigation has found the weapons, which are now carried by officers in every state and territory, are being used in situations they were never intended for.
NUMBER OF TASMANIA POLICE OFFICERS OFF DUTY DUE TO MENTAL HEALTH DOUBLES IN FIVE YEARS - 2026 TASMANIA
Tasmania Police says 102 officers are off duty on mental health compensation claims. A coroner's recommendation to conduct six-monthly mandatory well-being screenings has not been implemented. ... it reveals a problem within the police service, but that this is an issue every state and territory's police force is dealing with.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-02/tasmania-police-mental-health-leave/106624152
LAST CHANCE FOR ANSWERS IN NANNUP FOUR COLD CASE AS POLICE ADMIT SEARCH ERROR - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A stretch of almost impenetrable forest in south-west Western Australia could hold the key to one of Australia's most baffling missing persons cases, following confirmation from police that a previous search was conducted in the wrong area. Chantelle McDougall, her five-year-old daughter Leela McDougall, Simon Kadwill and Tony Popic went missing from the isolated town of Nannup in 2007.
BOARDROOM SCREAMING MATCH ENDS WITH COPS STORMING OUT [WA POLICE UNION STORY] - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Up Late Monday: In tonight’s show, Ben Harvey reveals why being the boss of WA’s Police Union isn’t a long-term career prospect with the third president in five years facing the chop, plus rank-and-file set to vote on whether the entire board should be sacked.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FvswU6qeLM
'SIGNIFICANT FAILURES' IN POLICE PROBE OF MAN'S DEATH - 2026 VICTORIA
Two of the last people to see Simon Gaskill alive were police. Officers dropped the 50-year-old homeless man near where he would later be found dead, but did not record the interaction, nor report it to a coroner until two years later. Police also failed to notify Mr Gaskill's family about his death until four days after his body was found, on April 15 2022, and destroyed his phone after he died.
POLICE MINISTER YASMIN CATLEY HITS BACK AT FAIRFIELD MAYOR'S ALLEGATION POLICE NOT BEING DEPLOYED IN WESTERN SYDNEY - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Police Minister Yasmin Catley hit back at comments by Fairfield Mayor Frank Carbone that police were being under-resourced in Western Sydney. Ms Catley said more police recruits had been deployed to Fairfield than any other area in Sydney's west. Cr Carbone made the comments after council closed a public plaza in the area in a bid to crack down on antisocial behaviour.
CALLS FOR AFP TO 'EXPLAIN' NEED TO ARREST BEN ROBERTS-SMITH AT SYDNEY AIRPORT - 2026 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
The Australian Federal Police is facing calls to “explain” the rationale for the way it arrested alleged war criminal Ben Roberts-Smith.
AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett defends Ben Roberts-Smith airport arrest - 2026 Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police has defended the decision to carry out the arrest of Ben Roberts-Smith publicly, stating it was in keeping with regular police practice. AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett says there was intelligence that the former soldier was intending to move overseas, and that factored into decisions around his arrest. Commissioner Barrett also said she was "determined" to find out how details of the arrest were leaked to the media.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-05-28/afp-commissioner-defends-ben-roberts-smith-arrest/106734904
CORONER HEARS OF POLICE FAILINGS FOLLOWING 1976 DISAPPEARANCE OF VERONICA GREEN - 2026 VICTORIA*
The Coroner's Court of Victoria has heard of multiple failures in the police investigation of Veronica Green's 1976 disappearance. Police never questioned Ms Green's husband, who was violent towards his wife and died in 2006. Investigators now believe Ms Green was likely killed, but her daughter says she believes her mother could still be alive.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04-08/veronica-green-victoria-missing-person-cold-case/106543156
* toxicpolice.com focuses on twenty-first century police misconduct. This article is referenced as one of interest as police have continued to work on the case.
TRANSIT OFFICERS ON DARWIN'S 'DANGEROUS' BUS NETWORK WILL SOON BE ARMED WITH GUNS - 2026 NORTHERN TERRITORY
Transit officers — officially known as police public safety officers — will start armed patrols Darwin's bus network from June, with just four months of training under their belt. The Transport Workers Union says antisocial behaviour on the NT's public transport is "the worst in the country". NT government says some positive results have come from the interventions its made to bring violence under control, while NT Police says guns will make buses safer.
‘Inherently dangerous and unnecessary’: NT buses will soon be patrolled by armed officers - 2026 Northern Territory
First Nations lawyers and politicians warn the change will disproportionately affect Indigenous people, making them feel ‘less safe, rather than more safe’
ARE WHISTLEBLOWER COPS PUNISHED FOR SPEAKING OUT? - 2026 NATIONAL
This Justice Matters video discusses claims by whistleblower cops that they are punished for speaking out about "police abuse".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHNDh67C7cM&list=PLNxnjfY3dEHwcguiQKWDO989yTjLLFzqY&index=2
LAWYERS CRITICISE 'EXTREME' ARREST OF ISAAC HERZOG PROTESTER AFTER NSW POLICE RELEASE VIDEO - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
The 42-year-old is the 26th person charged after February rally against Israeli president that led to violent clashes between police and protesters. Lawyers have raised concerns that New South Wales police used heavy-handed tactics when arresting an anti-Isaac Herzog protester this week, after eight tactical officers were sent to their home at 5am and “smashed the door open”. The 42-year-old was the 26th person to be charged after the protest at Sydney town hall in February against the visiting Israeli president. The police response on the night of the protest is being investigated amid allegations of police brutality.
And see various 2026 articles below in relation to this topic.
PROPOSED NEW LAWS ALLOW POLICE TO MOVE PEOPLE ON FOR 'CAUSING ANXIETY' WITHOUT COMMITING A CRIME - 2026 QUEENSLAND
Proposed Queensland laws would give police powers to move on "troublemakers" from designated public spaces. The proposal would expand Queensland's Adult Crime, Adult Time laws. The public hearings will continue until April.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-27/police-to-target-young-people-for-causing-anxiety/106505154
PETITION CALLS FOR RELEASE OF POLICE VIDEO OF INDIGENOUS MAN'S DEATH IN CUSTODY - 2026 QUEENSLAND
Indigenous man Steven Nixon-McKellar died while in custody in Toowoomba in 2021. A Queensland coroner found Mr Nixon-McKeller's cause of death was "multi-factorial" and not the direct result of police using a lateral vascular neck restraint (LVNR) during his arrest. A petition has been launched calling for the release of police video of the moments leading up to his death.
25 YO MAN DIES IN NT POLICE CUSTODY AFTER ARREST AND DETAINMENT IN POLICE CAR CAGE IN DARWIN - 2026 NORTHERN TERRITORY
A 25-year-old Indigenous man has died in police custody in Darwin's northern suburbs overnight, after he was arrested and detained in a caged police car.
QUEENSLAND GOVERNMENT CRITICISED OVER 'ABSURD' DECISION TO APPOINT FORMER POLICE OFFICER TO LEGAL AID BOARD - 2026 QUEENSLAND
A barrister who acted for Mulrunji Doomadgee’s family says it is “unacceptable” for a former police officer criticised for his conduct in investigating the 2004 death in custody to serve on the Queensland’s Legal Aid board. Andrew Boe represented Doomadgee’s family and the Palm Island community council at an aborted coronial inquest in 2005 and then in subsequent inquests in 2006 and 2010.
MEDIA RELEASE - POLICE GIVING FAVOURABLE TREATMENT TO FRIENDS IS SERIOUS MISCONDUCT - LAW ENFORCEMENT CONDUCT COMMISSION REPORT - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
In a report tabled in Parliament today, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission highlighted the challenges for police officers stationed in regional or rural areas, in particular the risk of police giving favourable and improper treatment to community members who are friends or close associates. In Operation Maddington, the Commission found that 2 police officers working in a regional town had developed a close relationship with a local hospitality business owner. This relationship led to serious misconduct on the part of the 2 police officers.
POLICE OVERRULED IN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE GUN FROM BIKIE'S RELATIVE UNDER WA NEW FIREARMS LAWS - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Police cancelled the firearms licence of a person related to an outlaw motorcycle gang member. Under WA's gun laws, touted by the government as the "toughest" in the nation, police can cancel a licence should they deem the holder to not be a "fit and proper person". But a subsequent review overturned that decision, in a potential blow to how police understand the new laws.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-03-18/wa-gun-laws-suffer-legal-blow-bikie-relative/106466338
PETROL DRIVE-OFF SURGE PROMPTS WARNING FROM SA POLICE CHIEF TO RETAILERS - 2026 SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Fuel thefts have surged in South Australia amid rising petrol prices caused by the Middle East war. South Australian police say the onus is on the industry to take stronger steps to prevent drive-offs. The industry has pushed back against the comments, saying the cost of introducing pre-paid pumps would be passed on to consumers. SA Police Commissioner Stevens said "If you're entering into a contract with someone, on the promise that they'll pay for the goods that you provided them, and they fail to pay, I believe there's an argument that that's a civil debt — you've entered into an agreement, that person hasn't honoured the agreement,"
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE FACES DEEPENING INTEGRITY CRISIS AS MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS SURGE - 2026 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Australia’s federal law enforcement agency is confronting a serious credibility challenge after misconduct allegations within the Australian Federal Police (AFP) almost tripled in just three years, according to figures revealed in an exclusive investigation.
SYDNEY POLICE ARE USING DRONES TO CHASE SUSPECTS 500KM AWAY. IS A VULNERABLE TOWN BEING TARGETED? - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Moree in NSW is the ‘perfect location’ for remote drones, police say. But critics worry about impact of increased surveillance on local Aboriginal community.
AUSTRALIA'S MASCULINE POLICING CULTURE IS FAILING WOMEN AND CHILDREN - 2026 NATIONAL
There were concerning scenes in New South Wales during protests against Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s visit, while Queensland Police’s commitment to curtailing domestic and family violence was queried when a specialist unit was scrapped.
These issues might appear to be separate, but they both highlight a masculinity problem within Australian policing. It may be time for an Australian version of the United Kingdom’s 2023 Baroness Casey Review, which exposed worrying behaviour and cultural issues inside the UK’s Metropolitan Police Service.
SERIOUS TASMANIA POLICE OFFICER MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS MORE THAN DOUBLE IN THREE YEARS - 2026 TASMANIA
Allegations of the most serious kinds of misconduct made against Tasmania Police officers have jumped from 13 in 2023 to 34 in 2025. The data includes internal and external complaints, with matters including allegations of family violence, strangulation, and possessing and accessing child exploitation material.
INCREASED USE OF PEPPER SPRAY, POLICE WEAPONS AT PROTESTS ALARMS RIGHTS GROUPS - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES / NATIONAL
Legal and human rights groups have raised concerns about the increasing use of pepper spray and other weapons at protests. The NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission is investigating the actions of police a week ago during the protest over Israeli President Isaac Herzog's visit to Sydney. Human rights groups are calling for a review and possible ban of police use of weapons for crowd control.
NSW POLICE CHASES UNDER SCRUTINY AFTER TWO WOMEN DIE IN CRASH AS DATA SHOWS RISE IN PRACTICE - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
Lee Casuscelli, who died in a car crash in Camden following a police pursuit, has been remembered as a highly-respected education leader.
Data on police chases in NSW shows a steady yearly increase. A policing expert says police had an ethical dilemma to manage when engaging in pursuits.
HOW TIGHT IS THE RIGHT TO PROTEST? - 2026 NEW SOUTH WALES
From 418 arrests in 1977 to fresh clashes in Sydney: Debate over Australia’s right to protest continues.
BRETT POINTING TO REPLACE STEVE GOLLSCHEWSKI AS QUEENSLAND POLICE COMMISSIONER ON 12-MONTH INTERIM BASIS - 2026 QUEENSLAND
Brett Pointing has been named as the interim Queensland police commissioner after Steve Gollchewski announced his retirement.
Mr Pointing is a former QPS deputy commissioner who left the service to take on the role of AFP deputy commissioner of operations.
WHY IT TOOK NEARLY HALF-AN-HOUR FOR POLICE TO START EVACUATING PERTH'S INVASION DAY RALLY - 2026 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
It didn't take long for confusion to spread through the crowd of hundreds at Perth's Invasion Day rally on Monday. In a matter of minutes they went from listening to speeches to being pushed back by a line of police dressed in black, yelling at them, some with pepper spray on their hips. At face value, it seems hard to understand how it could take nearly half-an-hour to respond to such a seemingly serious threat.
FEDERAL COURT FINDS EXTENDED VICTORIA POLICE STOP-AND-SEARCH DECLARATION WAS UNLAWFUL AND INVALID - 2026 VICTORIA
The Federal Court has ruled that a move to give police officers greater powers in Melbourne's CBD for six months from last November was invalid and unlawful. The ruling followed a legal and constitutional challenge the Human Rights Law Centre mounted against Victoria Police last year. Victoria Police revoked the designation a fortnight ago.
HANNAH CLARKE WAS FAILED BY POLICE BEFORE SHE WAS MURDERED. IT SHOULDN'T BE BE UP TO WHISTLEBLOWERS TO DEMAND BETTER - 2025 QUEENSLAND
Discussion article.
WOMAN DIES IN CUSTODY AT POLICE WATCH HOUSE IN TENNANT CREEK - 2025 NORTHERN TERRITORY
A 44-year-old woman has died in custody at a police watch house in Tennant Creek on Saturday afternoon.
Around 1pm local time, Tennant Creek police were conducting cell checks at the watch house and located an unconscious female prisoner in a cell, according to the NT Police, Fire & Emergency Services.
Police say Indigenous woman's death in custody was result of 'medical episode' - 2026 NORTHERN TERRITORY
Northern Territory Police say they believe the death in custody of a 44-year-old Indigenous woman in Tennant Creek on Saturday was the result of a "medical episode".
QUEENSLAND POLICE SUFFERS MASS EXODUS AS HUNDREDS OF OFFICERS QUIT - 2025 NATIONAL
Queensland Police is experiencing its worst recruitment crisis in five years with hundreds of officers quitting the force and 2,000 more out of action. During the last financial year 709 officers resigned, 1,355 were sick for more than 25 days, and 650 were off on long-term psychological leave, according to new police data. Former Detective Inspector Dr Terry Goldsworthy said the exodus was a result of organisational failure, and warned the statistics showed growth was not fast enough to meet recruitment targets. Queensland is not the only state struggling to recruit, with Victoria Police needing to fill more than 1,000 vacancies by the end of July despite entrance standards being drastically reduced in March. Hundreds more officers are off on sick leave, and staffing levels are sitting at 50% at some stations. An ABC analysis in September found more than 4,500 vacancies nationwide, including 2,279 in NSW, 895 in Queensland, 200 each in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, 170 in South Australia, 32 in Tasmania, and 22 in the ACT.
https://www.noticer.news/queensland-police-officers-quit-crisis/
NEW WA CORRUPTION AND CRIME COMMISSIONER ALTERS REPORT BY PREDECESSOR - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Barely two weeks into his job, Western Australia's new Corruption and Crime Commissioner has deleted a contentious section of a controversial report written by his predecessor. A report published by then-CCC Commissioner John McKechnie in 2019 alleged WA's former Japanese trade commissioner, Craig Peacock, had acted corruptly by double-dipping on cost of living allowance claims and payments, costing taxpayers more than $500,000.
CALLS FOR NSW POLICE TO END HIGH-SPEED PURSUITS FOR MINOR OFFENCES AFTER CRASH DEATHS - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
Life for Harri Jokinen's family was shattered in an instant on a sunny December day almost four years ago. A car being pursued at high speeds by police along the Monaro Highway outside Canberra hit his van head-on, leaving him fatally injured. His daughter, Lisa Jokinen, said life without her kind, patient father would never be the same. Deputy State Coroner Rebecca Hoskings found that the chase that killed Harri Jokinen should never have been instigated and recommended that police increase the threshold for pursuits to protect public safety. Mr Jokinen's family's trauma was further compounded by the fact that multiple coronial inquests over the past decade had made similar recommendations. But NSW Police had not implemented the change.
IAN LEAVERS, FORMER QUEENSLAND POLICE UNION BOSS, FOUND DEAD AT BRISBANE HOME - 2025 QUEENSLAND
Queensland's cross-border commissioner and former long-time police union president, Ian Leavers, has died.
QLD POLICE SAY WORKERS COMPENSATION SCHEME ADDS TO PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS - 2025 QUEENSLAND
When Queensland police officer Natalie Gorman medically retired from the job she loved, she was unprepared for the detrimental impact a workers compensation claim would have on her psychological injury. After almost 20 years' service, the former sergeant received less than $4,000 in compensation after suffering post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) during her time with the Queensland Police Service (QPS).
QUEENSLAND POLICE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER SHANE CHELEPY ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT - 2025 QUEENSLAND
Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy has announced his retirement after 40 years in the service. During his time, he worked in multiple high-profile frontline roles, including in disaster management and response during pandemics and weather events.
SYSTEMIC RACISM, POLICE VIOLENCE AND INDIGENOUS REPRESENTATION IN AUSTRALIA - 2025 NATIONAL
On June 1, 2020, a disturbing incident occurred in Ward Park, Surry Hills, Sydney, where Constable Ryan Barlow employed excessive force against a 16-year-old Aboriginal teenager, resulting in significant injuries. The teenager’s identity is protected for legal reasons. After a thorough investigation, Barlow was convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in May 2023, sentenced to an 18-month community correction order with supervision in December 2023 and lost his appeal in November 2024. Despite this conviction, he remains employed by the NSW Police Force as of July 2025. This incident is not an isolated occurrence, but part of a broader pattern of systemic racism and violence against Aboriginal Australians, rooted in the colonial history of Australia and perpetuated by ongoing socioeconomic disparities. This comprehensive analysis seeks to unpack these complex issues by integrating historical context, statistical data, case studies and policy recommendations. By incorporating the corrected figure of 3.8% for the Indigenous population as of July 10, 2025, we aim to reflect the demographic realities and advocate for systemic change.
VICTORIA POLICE ANNOUNCES PLAN TO SLIM DOWN EXECUTIVE TEAM, DIVERT MORE OFFICERS TO FRONT LINE - 2025 VICTORIA
Victoria Police's chief commissioner has announced a restructure of the organisation that will see more staff diverted to the front line. The changes aim to combat the state's major crime problem and help regain the community's confidence and trust in the organisation.
KIMBERLEY WOMAN PART OF SEVEN SISTERS PROJECT MAKES SUBMISSION TO UN IN FIGHT FOR JUSTICE - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Irene Davey has made a submission to the United Nations alleging mishandling of her daughter's disappearance by WA Police and the Australian Navy. Her case is one of seven West Australian cases examining missing or murdered Aboriginal women, being submitted as part of a project called the Seven Sisters.
VICTORIA POLICE REVIEWING EVIDENCE COLLECTED UNDER SECRET PRISON BUGGING PROGRAM - 2025 VICTORIA
High-security prisons in Victoria were secretly bugged without a valid warrant for close to two decades under a controversial Victoria Police program. Victoria Police will now be trusted to decide whether their own conduct was illegal during the program.
INQUEST INTO DEATH OF TASERED 95YO CLARE NOWLAND TO FOCUS ON DEMENTIA TRAINING - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
(See 95 YEAR OLD NURSING HOME RESIDENT FEMALE DIES AFTER TASERING BY POLICE OFFICER. FOUND GUILTY OF MANSLAUGHTER BUT NOT JAILED - 2023 NSW on Police Violence page)
Clare Nowland, 95, died in hospital in 2023 after being tasered by police officer Kristian White. White, whose employment with NSW Police has been terminated, was found guilty of manslaughter and given a non-custodial sentence. A court has heard the training of aged-care staff and first responders in dealing with people experiencing dementia will be the primary focus of an upcoming inquest into the death of 95-year-old Clare Nowland.
NT POLICE RESTART INVESTIGATION INTO MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE OF YOLNU CLAN LEADER DHAKIYARR WIRRPANDA - 2025 NORTHERN TERRITORY
A police investigation into the mysterious disappearance of a Yolŋu clan leader has been restarted. Dhudi-Djapu warrior Dhakiyarr Wirrpanda vanished without a trace after being acquitted of murdering a police officer in 1934. The restarting of the police investigation follows a months-long ABC investigation into the Northern Territory cold case.
FIVE QUESTIONS THE WATCHDOG OVERSEEING NSW POLICE WILL CONSIDER ABOUT LINDY LUCENA'S DEATH - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
NSW Police has been probed about "proper practice" and what could be done differently after first being alerted to Lindy Lucena's fatal bashing on the NSW north coast. Two officers found nothing when they scoped out the exterior of the Ballina Salvation Army building from their vehicles on January 3, 2023 — 55 minutes after emergency services were called.
POLICE USE OF FORCE IN MENTAL HEALTH CRISES: AN ANALYSIS OF CORONIAL FINDINGS FROM AUSTRALIA - 2025 QUEENSLAND
Police are frequently the initial responders to situations involving individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. These situations sometimes escalate to the point where police resort to the use of force, resulting at times in injury and, less often, loss of life. This study draws on data from coronial inquest reports of cases involving police use of fatal force against persons with mental illness from one Australian jurisdiction. It examines the contextual factors leading up to these incidents, the personal backgrounds and mental health histories of the individuals in crisis, and the tactical approaches employed by police leading to the use of deadly force. Understanding these insights is crucial as they can potentially guide efforts to reform police practices in dealing with individuals in mental health crises and ultimately may help to prevent fatal outcomes.
https://www.crimejusticejournal.com/article/view/3560
MOBILISING FOR EFFECTIVE REDRESS: THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMPLAINTS IN POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY IN VICTORIA - 2025 VICTORIA
This article analyses the role of international human rights complaints mechanisms in the police accountability landscape in
Australia, focusing on individual complaints to the United NationsHuman Rights Committee (HRC) under the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), to which Australia is a signatory. We do so through a case study of Horvath v Australia, which involved ‘a disgraceful and outrageous display of police force’ against Corinna Horvath in 1996.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10345329.2025.2557697?utm_source=chatgpt.com
FEDERAL POLICE UNION WARNS LABOR 'AUSTERITY' DRIVE WOULD UNDERMINE SECURITY - 2025 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
An apparent request across the public service to find and suspend low-priority spending would undermine security if applied to the AFP, according to its union.
NEW NORTHERN TERRITORY POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS A ROCKY ROAD AHEAD - 2025 NORTHERN TERRITORY
Rebuilding a fractured force that has churned through four police commissioners in 10 years, with one jailed, one sacked and another nudged into early retirement — the fourth retiring last week after heading up the Australian Federal Police since 2019.
NEW NSW POLICE COMMISSIONER MAL LANYON SAYS HE WANTS TO GET FORCE'S CULTURE 'RIGHT' - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
The new commissioner of NSW Police does not believe there is still a "boys' club" within the force, but says behaviour that prompted a workplace culture review will not be accepted under his leadership.
NSW GOVERNMENT LOSES MUSIC FESTIVAL STRIP SEARCH CASE AS WOMAN AWARDED $93,000 IN DAMAGES - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
The state government has lost a landmark case involving the illegal strip search of a woman by NSW Police at a music festival in 2018. Sydney woman Raya Meredith was awarded $93,000 in damages. The Sydney woman launched the legal case after being searched at the event where an officer asked her to remove a tampon while naked. The case is part of a broader class action which extends to police strip searches at music festivals from 2016.
Woman remains traumatised by police strip search as new commissioner issues apology.
GREENS CALL FOR TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATIONS INTO POLICE MISCONDUCT FOLLOWING INCIDENTS - 2025 AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY POLICE
A disturbing pattern of incidents involving inappropriate behaviour and racism justify a more transparent process for investigation and reporting of police misconduct, says Leader of the ACT Greens, Shane Rattenbury. Following a line of questioning in Budget Estimates, ACT Police and the Minister for Police could not provide or disclose details of the consequences for the officers involved in these incidents, citing secrecy and privacy provisions.
FAMILIES DEMAND INQUIRY INTO POLICE HANDLING OF MISSING PERSON CASES - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
Families feeling abandoned by police are taking search efforts for their missing loved ones into their own hands. A petition has called for a NSW inquiry into the handling of cases and legislation to support an independent task force.
NEW POLICE COMMISSIONER NAMED, HE ADMITS PAST MISTAKES - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
One of those mistakes was a factor in him being overlooked for the top job in 2022, after reports emerged of him being found lying on a footpath before becoming aggressive towards a paramedic after an alcohol-fuelled night in Goulburn. The second mistake threatened to arrest his latest ascent to the commissioner's office, after it emerged that he'd taken his wife and two friends onto a police vessel on New Year's Eve in 2023.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon sworn in, vows to tackle organised crime and domestic violence.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-01/nsw-police-commissioner-mal-lanyon-sworn-in/105838570
REPORT SCATHING OF POLICE AND INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG OVER FAILURE TO RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Parliamentary Inspector of the CCC has found WA Police's Internal Affairs Unit is “reluctant to find misconduct by police officers."
TASMANIAN LAW RECOGNISES HATE CRIMES - BUT NO-ONE HAS EVER BEEN CONVICTED OF ONE - 2025 TASMANIA
Currently in Tasmania, there is only one type of hate crime — a crime that has been motivated by racism.
But the draft bill lays out more attributes for inclusion, such as the victim being targeted because of their age, religious beliefs, language used, sex, gender identity or sexual orientation, disability or if they have a mental illness.
POSITIVE COMMENTARY ON INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE POLICE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA & VICTORIA
The WA government today released its second progress report on its five-year domestic violence reform plan, looking back on the plan's first year. WA praised for improvements it has made to officers' training, including better identifying who the victim is when they arrive at heightened situations.Victoria Police also positively mentioned for similar efforts.
POLICE OFFICERS SUBJECT TO RESTRAINING ORDERS DESK-BOUND UNDER GUN REFORMS, UNION SAYS - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The WA Police Union says officers have been removed from operational duties because new gun laws mean they can't carry a firearm if they're subject to a restraining order. Union president Dave Flaherty said there was little risk of police-issued firearms being used "contrary to orders".
VICTORIAN POLICE CHIEF SHANE PATTERSON RESIGNS AFTER NO-CONFIDENCE VOTE FROM OFFICERS - 2025 NATIONAL
Victoria's police chief, Shane Patton, has resigned from his role just two days after a no-confidence vote from his officers. It followed a protracted pay dispute between the Police Association of Victoria (TPAV) and the state government.
FORMER NEW ZEALAND POLICE COMMISSIONER MIKE BUSH SET TO BE NAMED AS NEW VICTORIA POLICE CHIEF COMMISSIONER - 2025 VICTORIA
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-05/victorian-police-chief-commissioner-mike-bush/105255876
New Chief Commissioner Of Police Appointed
https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/new-chief-commissioner-police-appointed
NT POLICE COMMISSIONER MICHAEL MURPHY TO BE SACKED AFTER 'INCOMPETENT' INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG FINDING - 2025 NORTHERN TERRITORY
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has been stood down after an NT ICAC probe found he engaged in "incompetent" conduct by recruiting a close friend to a high-ranking police position. NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro announced late on Saturday that Commissioner Murphy's position was "untenable". "Today, I informed Commissioner Murphy he has lost the confidence of the government," she said. "I gave Commissioner Murphy the opportunity to resign. "The police commissioner was asked to go on leave effective immediately. "I have now begun the process to terminate the appointment of the police commissioner."
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE COMMISSIONER REECE KERSHAW RESIGNS EARLY - 2025 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
Australian Federal Police commissioner Reece Kershaw has retired early as the nation's top cop, with a year left on his contract.
Deputy commissioner Krissy Barrett will replace him, becoming the first woman in the role.
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE REFUSING TO COMMENT ON TOP OFFICER RESIGNATION - 2025 AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
The AFP is refusing to comment on the sudden departure of one of its most senior figures. AFP employees were notified of Assistant Commissioner Doug Boudry's sudden departure just months after being recognised for distinguished service.
COPS GONE WILD: NSW POLICE OFFICERS CONSISTENTLY COMMIT BRUTALITY WITH IMPUNITY - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
These two incidents involve excessively violent use of force on a civilian under vastly different circumstances.
GP BLAMES ROTTEN CULTURE IN NT POLICE FOR OFFICERS' SUICIDES - 2025 NORTHERN TERRITORY
A doctor has blamed what he described as a "rotten culture" in the NT police force for Constable Michael Deutrom's suicide in 2022, as he defended his treatment plan at a coronial inquest. Constable Deutrom was one of three NT police officers who took their own life in the first half of 2022.
NT police did not conduct internal investigation into death of officer Michael Deutrom, inquest hears.
REGIONAL WA LEADERS SAY AUSTRALIND'S POLICE STATION IS 10 OFFICERS SHORT - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Shire of Harvey says local residents feel unsafe due to a lack of police presence on the streets and slow response times.
WA Police Union president Dave Flaherty says police officers in the area are stepping up to fill the gaps, putting them at risk of burnout.
NSW POLICE OFFICERS SHOULD NOT MAKE BAIL DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CHARGED COLLEAGUES, FORMER MAGISTRATE SAYS - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
A former NSW magistrate and an anti-domestic violence advocacy organisation are calling for an overhaul of the state's police bail system. They argue the initial decision about granting bail for police officers who are charged should be made independently from police.Forty-two NSW Police officers have been charged with domestic violence offences from January 1, 2023 to March this year.
NSW POLICE OFFICERS CONTINUE TO ENGAGE IN MISCONDUCT WITH IMPUNITY - 2025 NEW SOUTH WALES
'LOSS OF FAITH IN POLICE': INDIGENOUS VICTIMS OF CRIME FEAR NOT BEING BELIEVED, VICTORIAN STUDY FINDS - 2024 VICTORIA
Conducted by researchers at RMIT’s Centre for Innovative Justice in partnership with Djirra, Dardi Munwurro and Elizabeth Morgan House Aboriginal Women’s Service, the study found First Nations people are disproportionately victimised but received “inadequate support” throughout the criminal justice process – from reporting to navigating the court system and accessing support services afterwards.
POLICE OFFICERS OVERWORKED AS UNFILLED VACANCIES AND SICK LEAVE SURGE, DRIVING THOUSANDS TO LEAVE THE FORCE - 2024 NATIONAL
Thousands of vacancies for police officers across Australia are making it harder for police to protect the public, unions say.
Data collected by the ABC from each state and territory shows there are more than 4,500 vacancies for police officers across the country.
PUBLIC SKILLS AUSTRALIA POLICE WORKFORCE OVERVIEW - 2024 NATIONAL
Police organisations and unions highlighted that they are experiencing shortages of Police Officers across all States/Territories. Additionally, stakeholders observed that national labour market datasets fail to capture the complexities of Police occupational shortages, overlooking factors such as government commitments, retention challenges, the impact of career progression, and the evolving demands of policing. These shortages can be caused by regionality, competition for labour and recruitment and retention efforts, all of which are discussed in the Workforce Insights Report.
https://publicskillsaustralia.org.au/police
ALLEGED TOXIC CULTURE DRIVING NSW OFFICERS OUT OF JOBS - 2024 NEW SOUTH WALES
An ABC investigation has discovered claims a toxic culture in the New South Wales police force is driving officers out of the job. Current and former officers allege the force is plagued with systemic bullying, nepotism, sexism and a lack of support for personnel suffering from PTSD.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOlyGlnfjt4
PERCEPTIONS OF CORRUPTION INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG REPORT - 2024 VICTORIA
A total of 477 responses from Victoria Police employees (two per cent of the total number of 22,465 employees) were collected over the fieldwork period, 15 April to 19 May 2024. The survey was open to sworn police officers, protective services officers, and public servants, and also include Police Custody Officers who are recorded as public servants, employed at Victoria Police. Victoria Police assisted IBAC in the distribution of the online survey link to all employees.
https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/perceptions-corruption-2024-victoria-police
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE - A PATTERN SET TO FAILURE - 2024 NATIONAL
When police fail to follow operating procedures in response to domestic violence incidents, the consequences can be deadly.
INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG RECEIVES 4,300 ALLEGATIONS AGAINST POLICE - 2024 VICTORIA
Victoria’s independent anti-corruption body considered more than 4,300 allegations and almost 2000 complaints against Victoria Police last year. The report identifies a rising number of complaints and notifications about police misconduct, IBAC says.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) has today released the annual snapshot of its independent police oversight role, identifying an increasing number of complaints, notifications and investigations about police misconduct.
https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/media-release-IBACs-independent-oversight-of-Victoria-Police-2024
POLICE OFFICER SUICIDES IN AUSTRALIA - 2024 NATIONAL
Research by WA Police Union.
WA Police Union research finds death by suicide surpasses those killed on duty - 2023 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SAM LIM MP Western Australia Police parliamentary speech on WA Police suicides
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1391587142772698
Advocates want more of a conversation on the mental health impact on front line police.
WA Police has the highest rate of suicides among the mainland police jurisdictions.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-04-07/mental-health-support-to-prevent-police-suicide/103666516
POLICING HATE CRIME: EXPLORING THE ISSUE WITH A COHORT OF SWORN POLICE OFFICERS - 2024 NEW SOUTH WALES
Globally, there has been a trend in rising levels of hate crime that scholars have argued is reflective of significant social problems within society. Research into hate crime has typically focused on the police and their subsequent response to this crime type, with many findings reporting that the police are racist, homophobic and Islamophobic, to name but a few. However, existing research seldom captures the insights and experiences of sworn police officers, as much of the data is gathered from third parties. This paper presents the empirical findings from a Delphi study conducted with one police force in Australia, sampling sworn New South Wales (NSW) police officers between October 2020 and October 2021. The findings focus on four overarching areas: defining hate crime, perpetrators of hate crime, victims of hate crime, and responses to hate crime ...
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11896-023-09641-y?utm_source=chatgpt.com
A POLICE OFFICER'S PERSPECTIVE ON WA POLICE'S ORGANISATIONAL CULTURE - 2023 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A paper published by the WA government offering a detailed critique of the culture, management practices, and support mechanisms within the WA Police. It highlights systemic issues, personal experiences, and recommendations for improvement. Key points raised include a WA Police culture described as toxic, broken, and lacking psychological safety. Issues include bullying, nepotism, cronyism, and a lack of transparency in decision-making.
SECRECY CONTINUES AROUND POLICE MISCONDUCT IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AS MP CALLS FOR MANDATORY PROACTIVE DISCLOSURE - 2023 SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Mid-level officers breached the SAPOL Code of Conduct 32 times in a three-year period, documents provided to the ABC reveal, but details about the misconduct remain wrapped in secrecy. Commissioner Grant Stevens in March declined to release the ages and genders of officers involved in proven or admitted misconduct, following a request from the state's Deputy Ombudsman.
COMMISSIONER SENDS WARNING TO VICTORIA POLICE OVER BAD BEHAVIOUR - 2023 VICTORIA, QUEENSLAND, QUEENSLAND, NORTHERN TERRITORY
Victoria’s Police Commissioner has blown the whistle on his own force, reading the riot act to officers over bad behaviour, ranging from racism to violence to drug taking and sexual harassment. Lawyer Jeremy King specialises in police accountability, and joins us. A warning to Indigenous viewers, this story contains the image of a deceased person.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjKULlCi37k
A SNAPSHOT OF CORRUPTION AND MISCONDUCT RISKS FOR VICTORIA POLICE - 2023 VICTORIA
The most common types of alleged behaviour includes inaction, breach of professional boundaries, force, criminal behaviour and misuse of resources.
https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/police-snapshot-and-key-insights
PREDATORY BEHAVIOUR BY POLICE - 2023 VICTORIA
This summary describes IBAC’s thematic review of a series of Victoria Police investigations into allegations of predatory behaviour by police officers. The alleged behaviour targeted members of the public, colleagues or both. Predatory behaviour by Victoria Police officers is an ongoing focus for IBAC. This thematic review builds on IBAC’s 2015 report on predatory behaviour by police officers against vulnerable members of the public, which found that colleagues tacitly accepted such behaviour, and supervisors and managers failed to act to address it. This thematic review also follows the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission’s independent review into sex discrimination and sexual harassment within Victoria Police, undertaken between 2014 and 2019. IBAC findings include: a) Despite efforts undertaken over recent years, predatory behaviour persists within Victoria Police and remains under-reported; b) Consistent with our 2015 report, women experiencing domestic or family violence were targets of this behaviour.
https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/predatory-behaviour-by-police
QUEENSLAND POLICE UNDER FIRE - 2023 QUEENSLAND
The Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, has begun to restructure the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in an attempt to eradicate the “significant problem” of sexism, racism, and misogyny in the force. The ALP government has promised to enact the 78 recommendations of the Domestic and Family Violence 2022 report. Judge Deborah Richards’ three-month Commission of Inquiry found that officers’ attitudes and biases to the public have impacted domestic violence policing and failed to support the victims.
https://cpa.org.au/guardian/issue-2046/queensland-police-under-fire/
REVIEW OF NSW POLICE FORCE RESPONSES TO DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE INCIDENTS - 2023 NEW SOUTH WALES
Opportunities for improvement were identified by the review, including Several issues emerged during the Commission’s review including the way in which police officers being involved in domestic and family violence incidents are dealt
with, deficiencies in investigating domestic and family violence matters, no formal process in terms of how local Commands recorded securing the service firearms of involved officers, inadequate or insufficient training in domestic and family violence processes and procedures, poor record keeping practices. The Commission’s review found that over a quarter of all complaint investigations related to police officers being involved in domestic and family violence incidents; some of them more than once.
NSW Police Force response to recommendations made in Review of NSW Police Force responses to family and domestic violence - 2023 NEW SOUTH WALES
TASERS - UNDATED NATIONAL
The Federation of Community Legal Centres has long been concerned that Tasers should not be seen as the panacea to police use of a firearm. There are significant risks that Tasers can kill or harm when used on vulnerable groups or in particular ways. These are the same vulnerable groups that are over-represented in statistics relating to police use of lethal force in Victoria.
Evidence from overseas, and increasingly from Australia, suggests that Tasers are prone to misuse. We also know that use of lethal force by police can be avoided in most instances with tactical communication, nonviolent intervention and other lower use of force strategies.
THROUGH AN AUSTRALIAN LENS: EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF BODY-WORN CAMERAS ON POLICE-COMMUNITY RELATIONS - 2022 NATIONAL
As the police and law enforcement community globally continue to increase the implementation of body-worn cameras (BWCs), there is a building body of knowledge as to the advantages and disadvantages of this tool for policing. Corresponding to the more widespread use of BWCs by police officers is an increase in the areas and level of scrutiny that are caught in the cascading impact of their use. One of the much-lauded potential benefits for the BWCs was the expectation of building positive relationships between officers and the citizens of the community they police. This paper presents findings from a comprehensive research evaluation of the Australian New South Wales Police Force BWC initiative.
https://academic.oup.com/policing/article/doi/10.1093/police/paac065/6717938
POLICE VIOLENCE ON THE RISE AS OFFICERS ABUSE THEIR RIGHTS - 2021 NATIONAL
utside the Land Forces Expo in Brisbane this week, a police officer flashed an “okay” hand sign at a protester. We all know by now what this means, so let’s not get caught up in decoding the bleeding obvious yet again. I’d rather we talk about what it effectively does in this context: it acts as a declaration of hostility toward leftist protesters. It goes hand-in-hand with a lot of actual violence; of course, we’ve seen yet more of that at Land Forces. The truth is that the police will always enact the maximum amount of violence that the state’s electorate allows them.
POLICE VIOLENCE IN AUSTRALIA - 2020 NATIONAL
An independent article exploring various aspects of Australian police violent behaviours.
https://othersociologist.com/2020/05/31/police-violence-in-australia/
FORMER AUSTRALIAN COP EXPOSES RACISM - 2020 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
A former Australian police officer has come forward to expose the systemic racism he witnessed towards Indigenous people and other minorities. As an immigrant, he says that he also faced constant racism himself. In one incident, he describes a fellow officer taking a photo of a dead, homeless Aboriginal man and using it as his computer wallpaper at work.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu8LP_T7Bx0&t=20s
WA'S CORRUPTION WATCHDOG SLAMMED FOR NOT TAKING COMPLAINTS ABOUT POLICE - 2020 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Almost all complaints of excessive force by WA police are referred back to internal affairs units by the state's corruption watchdog, further fracturing the relationship with Aboriginal communities. But the state's police union president has told a parliamentary hearing there is no systemic racism in WA's police force and officers are already heavily scrutinised. Since July 2016, WA's Corruption and Crime Commission has probed just eight of the 289 complaints it received claiming excessive use of police force, with the vast majority referred to the WA Police internal affairs unit.
POLICING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE - 2020 NATIONAL
This review examines what is known about the policing of domestic violence. It covers six domains of police involvement in domestic violence—workforce development, reporting to police, first response, prevention of further domestic violence, investigative responses and charging of perpetrators.
DEATHS IN CUSTODY IN AUSTRALIA 2017-18 - 2020 NATIONAL
The National Deaths in Custody Program (NDICP) is responsible for monitoring the extent and nature of deaths occurring in prison, police custody and youth detention in Australia since1980. The Australian Institute of Criminology has coordinated the NDICP since its establishmentin 1992, the result of a recommendation made by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths
in Custody the previous year. This report contains detailed information on deaths in both prison and police custody and custody-related operations in 2017–18, and compares these findings to longer term trends. No deaths occurred in youth detention in 2017–18.
CCC REPORT ON REVIEW OF WA POLICE MISCONDUCT INVESTIGATION - 2020 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
The Corruption and Crime Commission has today tabled in State Parliament a Report on oversight of a police investigation into an arrest for disorderly conduct following its monitoring and review of the way WA Police dealt with an allegation of misconduct by an officer. The Commission and the Commission's oversight body, the Office of the Parliamentary Inspector (PI), identified concerns with WA Police's investigation into this matter. WA Police reopened their file. However, it took over two years to finalise the investigation into Mr X's complaint.
NSW INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG FUNDING ROW REVEALS ONLY 2 PERCENT OF COMPLAINTS FULLY INVESTIGATED - 2019 NEW SOUTH WALES
2,547 complaints assessed last year by the police watchdog the Law Enforcement Complaints Commission (LECC). But it has been revealed that just 2 per cent of complaints to the LECC were fully investigated due to funding cuts.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-03/nsw-police-complaints-watchdog-funding-row/11667350
MORE THAN 1,000 MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS AGAINST WA POLICE FILED IN THREE MONTHS - 2019 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
In a new report, WA’sin the state’s police fo Corruption and Crime Commission has revealed it identified 1,836 misconduct allegations between 1 April 2019 and 30 June 2019. The CCC attributes this unusually large number to a backlog of reports that had built up due to staff turnover and vacancies.
REVIEW INTO THE NSW POLICE FORCE PROMOTIONS SYSTEM - 2019 NEW SOUTH WALES
The Review found that while the promotions system in NSW Police appears gender-neutral on paper, it disproportionately disadvantages women in practice. Women are under-represented at senior ranks; flexible or part-time work arrangements (which more women use) reduce access to leadership training, relieving roles, and major assignments. Caring responsibilities, relocation, and informal networks (including “cliques” or being excluded from sponsorship/mentoring) were cited as barriers. Culture plays a role: sexist attitudes, limited female role models, and perceptions that women are less ambitious or capable exist. Sexual harassment and sexism persist. The system’s merit-framework often masks unconscious bias.
INSIDE A MAXIMUM SECURITY POLICE WATCH HOUSE WHERE CHILDREN ARE LOCKED UP - 2019 QUEENSLAND
Police watch houses are maximum security facilities designed to hold the most dangerous adult prisoners, but in Queensland, children as young as 10 are being locked here as well. With exclusive access, Four Corners takes you inside the locked cells of a Queensland watch house, to see what conditions are like. This investigation comes almost three years after Four Corners exposed shocking mistreatment in the Northern Territory’s Don Dale youth detention centre in Australia’s Shame, sparking a Royal Commission.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4ShXwJ24xc
UNAUTHORISED ACCESS AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION HELD BY VICTORIA POLICE - 2019 VICTORIA
This report provides an overview of the key risks associated with unauthorised access and disclosure of information by Victoria Police employees. It explores the drivers of these risks, as well as potential prevention, reporting and detection measures.
DRINK DRIVING DETECTIONS OF VICTORIA POLICE OFFICERS - 2016 VICTORIA
IBAC identified that over the past 15 years, detections of officers drink driving have declined, however the average BAC reading of officers has increased. In comparison with the Victorian public, a higher percentage of officers are detected drink driving after a collision, with these numbers also increasing over the sample period.
https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/media/646/download?utm_source=chatgpt.com
INDEPENDENT REVIEW INTO SEX DISCRIMINATION AND SEXUAL HARASSMENT, INCLUDING PREDATORY BEHAVIOUR IN VICTORIA POLICE - 2015 VICTORIA
POLICING TRANSGENDER PEOPLE: DISCRETIONARY POLICE POWER AND THE INEFFECTUAL ASPIRATIONS OF ONE AUSTRALIAN POLICE INITIATIVE - 2015 NATIONAL
Police policy documents often articulate strategies and approaches that police organizations want to implement in their efforts to break down barriers with minority groups. However, most police policy documents are written for police audiences and not for members of the public. Police policy documents serve as a reflection of the aspirations of the agency and not necessarily the practice of the officers. Differential policing has been a salient experience for members of transgender communities because, as individuals who express gender in ways that deviate from the norm, they have experienced numerous documented cases of police mismanaged practice ...
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2158244015581189?utm_source=chatgpt.com
FACTBOX: TASER-RELATED DEATHS IN AUSTRALIA - 2013 NATIONAL
Here is a list of Taser-related deaths in Australia since 2002, and an overview of how many times Tasers have been used by police in each state over the past two years.
POLICE INTEGRITY MANAGEMENT IN AUSTRALIA - GLOBAL LESSONS FOR COMBATING POLICE MISCONDUCT - 2012 NATIONAL
A purchasable text book. In the past two decades, Australia has been the site of major police misconduct scandals and inquiries, leading to reform initiatives at the cutting edge of police integrity management practices. Presenting interviews with key informants and an analysis of key documents, Police Integrity Management in Australia: Global Lessons for Combating Police Misconduct offers a comprehensive study, conducted from 2008 to 2010, of strategies and systems in Australia.
AUDIT OF NSW POLICE FORCE HANDLING OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE COMPLAINTS - 2011 NEW SOUTH WALES
Our audit found that domestic violence-related complaints received in 2008 were generally well-handled by the NSWPF. In most cases, police correctly assessed the issues raised by complaints, notified them to the Ombudsman when required, and, when warranted, took appropriate action to address the issues raised. However, we did identify some instances where complaints were not well-handled by police.
LOOKING BACK AT TASER USE IN AUSTRALIA - 2010 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
ABC News 24 reporter Winsome Denyer takes a looks at the history of tasers in Australia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJwQqhN1VdU
POLICE INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF TASER INITIATION RITUAL - 2010 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Two senior WA police officers have been stood down amid allegations they tasered junior officers as part of an initiation ritual.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbzS9Agjrk0
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN POLICE "WORST POLICE FORCE IN AUSTRALIA" - 2008 WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Seriously West Aussies, would you want these guys investigating the most serious crimes against the community? Treason, murder, rape, fraud, corruption and grand theft ..., like of the WHOLE COUNTRY? Separation of powers? Without fear or favour? Constitutional and property rights? Sure they know about these fundamental rights, but are they keeping secret rites we should know about?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N47Op089eC4
Complementary Sites
THE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT
The Police Accountability Project is located in Victoria, Australia. By providing victim-centred remedies, strategic litigation, evidence based research, community support and policy and law reform, the Police Accountability Project aims to provide justice for those who least experience it and by doing so hold police who abuse to account. We aim to drive the political, cultural and systemic change required for true police accountability.
https://policeaccountability.org.au/about/
https://www.facebook.com/policeaccountabilityvic/
HOLLY'S LAW: INQUIRY INTO AUSTRALIAN POLICE WHO COMMIT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
A federal inquiry is needed to examine how widespread police-perpetrated domestic violence is, RED HEART founder Sherele Moody says. See this change.org petition.
A KEY RESOURCE COVERING POLICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CASES - OFFICER INVOLVED DOMESTIC VIOLENCE WEBSITE
A focused, in-depth analysis of multiple aspects of domestic violence / intimate partner violence perpetrated by police officers.
https://oidv-australia.com.au/
About the Independent Watchdogs
Each Australian police jurisdiction has its own legislation governing the way in which police misconduct is investigated and how decisions are made to charge, prosecute and discipline officers. There is a lot of variation in how this works, but in general the Independent watchdogs:
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Can refer more serious matters to their respective Director of Public Prosecutions independently of the police commissioners. Less serious matters are typically handled by the police forces' professional standards units and the police commissioners make final decisions on punishments. The definitions of, and delineation between, serious or not serious matters is unclear from the available literature, and may vary across jurisdictions.
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Cannot direct police commissioners on disciplinary actions to be taken against officers. This approach generates the most public debate and criticism since too often it appears that officers who have been found guilty of misconduct are retained in the forces, despite the organisational reputational damage inflicted and the risks inherent in employing officers whose personal integrity and decision-making are in doubt. Two 2025 articles above illustrate the debate and criticism (See GREENS CALL FOR TRANSPARENT INVESTIGATIONS INTO POLICE MISCONDUCT FOLLOWING INCIDENTS - 2025 ACT POLICE and REPORT SCATHING OF POLICE AND INDEPENDENT WATCHDOG OVER FAILURE TO RESPOND TO COMPLAINTS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT - 2025 WESTERN AUSTRALIA).
Links to the independent police watchdogs annual reports follow. These contain summaries and commentary about police misconduct (and other public sector organisations) investigations:
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY - ACT IC
https://www.integrity.act.gov.au/about-us/corporate-documents/annual-reports?utm_source=chatgpt.com
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE - NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION
https://www.nacc.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-11/annual_report_2023-24.pdf
NEW SOUTH WALES - NSW ICAC
https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/tp/files/189674/NSW%20ICAC%20Annual%20Report%202023-24.pdf
NORTHERN TERRITORY - ICAC NT
https://icac.nt.gov.au/_resources/media/documents/publications/ICAC-NT-AR-2023-24-web.pdf
QUEENSLAND - CCC
Note: Queensland Police publishes cases of police misconduct here (use search term 'misconduct'):
SOUTH AUSTRALIA - ICAC SA
https://www.icac.sa.gov.au/publications/annual-reports/annual-reports
Note: South Australia publishes misconduct cases here:
https://www.police.sa.gov.au/about-us/disciplinary-outcomes?
TASMANIA - IC TAS
https://www.integrity.tas.gov.au/publications/publications/annual-reports?utm_source=chatgpt.com
VICTORIA - IBAC
Note: IBAC Complaints list published at https://www.ibac.vic.gov.au/media-releases?field_resource_type=45
Note: IBAC’s independent oversight of Victoria Police 1 January to 31 December 2025
WESTERN AUSTRALIA - WA CCC
https://www.ccc.wa.gov.au/media/annual-reports?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Links to Police Forces' Wikipedia Pages
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACT_Policing
AUSTRALIAN FEDERAL POLICE
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Federal_Police
NEW SOUTH WALES
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_South_Wales_Police_Force
NORTHERN TERRITORY
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Territory_Police_Force
QUEENSLAND
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queensland_Police_Service
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Australia_Police
TASMANIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tasmania_Police
VICTORIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Police
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Australia_Police_Force