For many years, PIAC has called for an independent civilian oversight body to investigate critical incidents involving police. In our experience, inadequate oversight mechanisms have resulted in police not being adequately held to account when they have been involved in a critical incident – incidents leading to the death or serious injury of a member of the public.
Accountability is critical to community confidence in our police. In 2016, the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission (LECC) was created, following a review into police oversight by former NSW Shadow Attorney General Andrew Tink.
PIAC provided a detailed submission to the Tink Review based on our work advising and representing clients in relation to police complaints, civil actions and in coronial inquests. PIAC will continue to monitor the work of LECC to ensure that it provides the integrity that our community expects.