Complaints involving Police Flashcards
A police employee involved in a work incident causing serious bodily harm activates a requirement on the Commissioner. What is that requirement?
Written report to IPCA.
If you receive an oral complaint against police, what must you do?
Summarise in writing (or they can) and have complainant sign it
What action must you take if you are the only available officer and receive a complaint against you?
Record complainants details
Advise Prof Standards; Nat Manager or District Commander who arrange to take complaint
A prisoner has been processed, has seen his lawyer and is now in custody. They wish to make a complaint about police. What two things should you do.
Ensure the questioning of the complainant relates solely to the allegation.
Ensure their representative is present during interview.
Who notifies IPCA?
All complaints forwarded via Districts to Prof standards who notify IPCA.
Districts must NOT notify authority directly.
Define a “serious complaint”?
One which has:
Public interest or
Risks police reputation.
List four primary examples of “Serious Complaint”
1: Likely to generate media interest
2: Not serious but involve Inspector or above.
3: Complaints against Executive employees
4: Complaints of a sexual nature
Who must be notified of the compaint by the person receiving it?
District Police Conduct Manager or Nat Manager (who must notify Nat Mgr Prof Standards).
What are the key tasks of investigating a complaint?
Assess Criminal liability andCode of Conduct breaches.
Documentation on finding including recommendations
Consider Solicitor General guidelines
File review
Recommendations reviewed
Independent investigators line of reporting
Terms of reference (outside District investigators).
Describe “Conflict of Interest”
Situation where personal or professional interests may conflict with our position, obligations or responsibilities as a police employee”
Can a supervisor investigate complaints of a sexual nature by an employee?
No
You are asked to write a character reference for someone you know as part of your police employment. Can you write a reference?
Yes - but you must not sign it off as a police employee (job title) or use police letterhead etc.
Do you need permission to write a character reference ?
Yes, District Commander or Nat Manager
Where would you find a COI form?
Police forms in word headed “Professional Conduct”
Will a conflict of interest automatically exclude the person from the process where it was raised?
No. It may be managed or the person excluded depending of the nature of the event.
IPCA - Act requires Commissioner to notify IPCA asap but no later than ____ days of every ____
5 days
complaint or notifiable incident.
IPCA to notify Commissioner of complaints it receives also.
IPCA categorisation levels (4)
Cat A - Serious, IPCA may do own investigation
Cat B - Serious/significant, authority will oversee
Cat C - Conciliation by police with complainant
Cat D - Minor, no action or performance/conduct issue
MOU with the authority. Commissoner may notify the authority ….
of any matter involving criminal offending or serious misconduct by police employee were public interest may put police reputation at risk - loss of trust and confidence.
Action on receiving complaint, every complainant must :
- be treated with courtesy, respect, compassion
- have complaint received and actioned promptly
- be advised of procedure for actioning compliant
What is an Expression of Dissatisfaction (EOD)
Someone complaining about something non specific.
ie : police sirens, helicopter, not seeing police on beat.
If Police employee receives complaint - refer to supervisor
Kia Tu - Reporting unacceptable behaivour.
What is its purpose.
To prevent and resolve harmful behaivour at work, such as bullying, sexual/racial harrassment, discrimination
