How to file a complaint about police misconduct in Australia

Police powers in Australia are extensive, but they are limited by legislation, human rights principles, professional standards and court rules. Misconduct may include excessive force, unlawful arrest, discriminatory treatment, improper searches, threats, corruption, unauthorised disclosure of information or failing to provide appropriate care in custody.

The correct complaint pathway depends on which police service was involved. Australia has state and territory police forces, the Australian Federal Police (AFP), specialist oversight bodies and different rules for preserving evidence. A complaint about Victoria Police will usually follow a different process from one about the NSW Police Force or Queensland Police Service.

A person can report misconduct while also protecting their health, safety and legal position. Keep records, seek medical attention where needed, avoid posting detailed allegations online and obtain independent legal advice if criminal charges, serious injury or possible civil proceedings are involved.

Deal with immediate safety and medical needs

If there is an immediate threat, call Triple Zero (000) or move to a safe public place, such as a hospital, police station reception area or staffed transport hub. If the concern involves the officer or station where you are trying to report the incident, ask for a supervisor or use a different station. A support person, Aboriginal legal service or community legal centre may help you communicate safely.

Obtain medical care as soon as possible after an injury. Tell the doctor or nurse how the injury occurred and ask that symptoms, bruising, pain, emotional distress and treatment be recorded accurately. Photographs should show injuries from several angles, with the date retained in the original file. In Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and other large cities, hospitals and urgent-care clinics may have different waiting times, so attending the first suitable service is generally more important than delaying for a particular facility.

Do not resist arrest or interfere with police activity solely to create evidence for a complaint. If you are still detained, ask whether you are under arrest, request legal advice and avoid giving a detailed statement before speaking with a lawyer, except where immediate safety or identification requirements apply.

Record what happened while details are fresh

Write a chronological account as soon as practical. Include the date, time, location, officer names or badge numbers, vehicle details, words used, directions given, force applied, searches, restraints, witnesses and what happened afterwards. Separate facts you personally observed from assumptions about an officer’s motive. A clear timeline is more useful than an angry or speculative account.

Preserve photographs, video, audio, medical records, court documents, text messages and receipts for damaged property. Keep original files and make copies in a secure location. Do not edit the original recording before submitting it. Note whether footage came from a phone, CCTV, body-worn camera or a nearby business. In Australian shopping strips, railway stations and apartment buildings, relevant CCTV may be overwritten quickly, so ask a lawyer or complaint body about making a prompt preservation request.

Record witnesses’ names and contact details if they freely agree to provide them. Avoid pressuring them or publishing their details on social media. A complaint may involve sensitive personal information, and public posts can complicate privacy, defamation or criminal proceedings.

Identify the right complaint authority

For state and territory police, begin with the relevant police complaints unit or external oversight body. In New South Wales, serious or sensitive matters may be referred to the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC). Victoria has the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), while Queensland has the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) for matters within its jurisdiction. Western Australia’s Corruption and Crime Commission, South Australia’s Office for Public Integrity and the Northern Territory’s Office of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption also have distinct functions.

The Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania use their own complaint and integrity arrangements, so check the current official government website before submitting. Some bodies investigate directly; others assess, monitor, refer or receive complaints while the police service handles less serious conduct. The agency receiving your complaint should explain whether it has jurisdiction and whether another body is more suitable.

For AFP conduct, use the AFP complaint process and check whether the Commonwealth Ombudsman or another Commonwealth oversight mechanism has a role. The Australian Human Rights Commission may be relevant to discrimination or human rights concerns, but it does not replace a police misconduct investigation or determine criminal guilt.

Submit a clear and specific complaint

Use the official online form, written process or approved reporting channel. State that you are making a formal complaint about police conduct and identify the officers, station, event and outcome you seek. Possible concerns include unreasonable force, unlawful detention, racial profiling, improper use of a database, failure to provide medical assistance or dishonest evidence.

Attach a concise chronology and label supporting documents. Explain any injury, financial loss, property damage or continuing fear. If you do not know an officer’s name, provide the patrol car number, location, appearance, time and any information from paperwork. Keep a copy of the completed form, attachments and automatic acknowledgement.

The process can feel unfamiliar when compared with other administrative complaints. Nomcentar’s practical guide to claiming unpaid wages illustrates the value of identifying the right authority, organising documents and explaining the remedy sought, even though Australian police complaints follow different laws and agencies.

Understand privacy, evidence and legal representation

A complaint authority may request a formal statement, interview, medical consent or access to records. Read consent forms carefully and ask what information will be shared, with whom and for what purpose. You can request an interpreter, disability accommodation or support person where available. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people may prefer assistance from an Aboriginal legal service or culturally safe advocacy organisation.

Seek a solicitor quickly if the incident resulted in charges, a serious injury, sexual violence, loss of employment, immigration consequences or possible false evidence. Community Legal Centres Australia, state legal aid services and specialist services may provide initial guidance, although eligibility differs by location and income. A lawyer can also advise about civil claims, judicial review, subpoenas and whether giving a detailed complaint could affect an active prosecution.

Legal names and identity records can matter when complaint forms, court documents and medical records use different details. Guidance on legally changing a name concerns Serbian law rather than Australia, but it highlights a practical point: use the name and identifying details required by the relevant authority, and explain any discrepancy rather than leaving records ambiguous.

Track the process and respond to delays

Ask for a reference number, the responsible agency and an approximate next step. Record every call, email and letter, including the date, staff member and substance of the communication. If the authority requests more information, provide it by the stated deadline and keep proof of submission. If you need extra time because of illness, trauma or legal advice, request an extension in writing.

Some investigations take months because they involve body-worn video, multiple witnesses, forensic material, court proceedings or referral between agencies. A delay does not automatically prove that a complaint has been ignored, but unexplained silence should be followed up. Ask whether the matter has been accepted, referred, paused because of criminal proceedings or closed, and request written reasons where available.

Oversight bodies may have review or appeal pathways if a complaint is declined or the outcome is disputed. These mechanisms have limits and deadlines. Read the decision carefully, preserve the envelope or email showing when it arrived and obtain advice before missing a review period.

Protect your position after the complaint

Keep communicating through calm, factual channels. Do not contact the complained-about officer to argue about the incident, and do not threaten staff involved in the investigation. Avoid identifying officers, witnesses or vulnerable people in public posts. Online discussion can expose private information and may affect evidence, defamation risks or a pending prosecution.

If police contact you again, ask whether the contact concerns the complaint, an investigation or another matter. You may be required to comply with lawful directions, but you can request legal advice before a voluntary interview. If you fear retaliation, state that concern in writing and ask about confidentiality, protective measures and alternative contact arrangements.

Independent organisations can help explain legal processes and refer people to local services. NOMCENTAR’s legal team reflects the wider role that community-based legal education can play in making complaint procedures easier to understand. In Australia, a state-based community legal centre, Aboriginal legal service, union, disability advocate or domestic and family violence service may provide assistance suited to the circumstances.