Police complaints procedure changes planned

Thu, 22 Jul 2010

Changes to the police complaints procedure are being planned.

The Department of Home Affairs wants to make the current system more independent, in order to command public confidence.

Retired advocates have been appointed to the Police Complaints Commissioner role since the early 1990s, but a police officer is still assigned to investigate each complaint.

The proposed changes include renaming the Police Complaints Commissioner as the Police Ombudsman, removing the Department of Home Affairs from the process of appointing the Ombudsman and to have the complaints process externally audited.

It's hoped the new system will be put in place around new year.