What we do
The Crime and Misconduct Commission is a unique organisation. With investigative, law enforcement, intelligence, witness protection, adjudicative and research functions, we encompass almost all aspects of the criminal justice system.
Our charter is to:
- investigate organised crime, paedophilia, terrorist activity and other serious crime referred to us for investigation
- work with public sector agencies, including the Queensland Police Service (QPS), to fight misconduct, including corruption
- investigate cases of potentially serious misconduct
- help recover the proceeds of crime for the people of Queensland
- provide the witness protection service for the state of Queensland
- conduct research on crime, policing and public policy matters.
Our existence is a reassurance to Queenslanders that in this state we have a vigilant independent body striving to keep our public institutions ethical and accountable, our police honest and efficient, our children safe, and our communities as free as possible from corruption and organised crime.
Combating crime
We make an important contribution to the fight against crime through our investigations, intelligence gathering, research, and prevention activities.
We work in partnership with the QPS and other agencies to dismantle and disrupt organised crime networks. We also target paedophiles who are networked or use the internet to prey on children, and help police investigate unsolved serious crimes such as murder or arson.
However, we are not an alternative police service. We use our special powers, expertise and resources to complement the efforts of other law enforcement agencies, especially the QPS.
- Read more about crime and law enforcement.
Recovering the proceeds of crime
Confiscation of the proceeds of crime deters crime by attacking its profitability and removing funding for further criminal activity. Successful proceeds of crime work means that illegal gains by criminals can be recouped for the people of Queensland.
Our proceeds of crime staff work closely with the Queensland Police Service and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in identifying and litigating proceeds of crime matters, as well as with the Public Trustee of Queensland, who is responsible for the property restrained and held by the state.
- Read more about how we recover the proceeds of crime.
Promoting a trustworthy public sector
We receive and assess complaints alleging misconduct in public sector agencies.
We deal with the most serious allegations of misconduct ourselves, but refer most complaints to the relevant agency for handling. We then monitor how they deal with them. This enables us to safeguard public confidence in the integrity of these agencies while making them accountable for conduct in their own workplaces.
We are not a court, nor can we discipline anyone as a result of a misconduct investigation. We can, however, refer matters to the Director of Public Prosecutions with a view to criminal prosecution, to the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal to consider, or to a CEO to consider disciplinary action.
Our misconduct prevention and capacity-building activities help agencies reduce their risk of corruption by improving their internal controls, accountability and the integrity of their operations.
- Read more about misconduct.
Providing intelligence services
Our intelligence area collects, collates and analyses information and intelligence relevant to our crime, misconduct and witness protection responsibilities, and provides tactical support for investigative teams. Our multidisciplinary approach integrates strategic intelligence, research and financial investigation.
We identify and develop targets for investigation, and monitor various crime markets in Queensland to identify emerging trends or changes in threat levels. We maintain an intelligence database and share relevant intelligence with other agencies and with the public where relevant. We also produce substantial strategic intelligence assessments on specific issues that could affect law enforcement in Queensland.
To set our investigative priorities, we research and analyse past and current developments and assess the current and future threat, or risk level, posed by the issue.
- Find out about intelligence careers with us.
Conducting research
We conduct research into crime and the criminal justice system, misconduct and various aspects of police powers and operations. This provides the evidence base for our contribution to public policy issues, including recommendations for legislative change.
We work with policy makers, legal specialists, public service departments and participants in the criminal justice system, as well as universities and other research and funding bodies.
We are independent from the government of the day, and Queenslanders can be assured that we examine contemporary issues rigorously and impartially. We also encourage them to collaborate in our research by responding to surveys and providing submissions to inquiries and reviews.
We translate our research into practice by disseminating it to public sector and criminal justice professionals. This ensures that any new knowledge leads to sustainable improvements and helps build agencies’ capacity to prevent and deal with misconduct.
- Find out about research careers with us.
- Find research and publications.
Protecting witnesses
We protect people who are in danger as a result of assisting a law enforcement agency such as the QPS. They include victims of crime, innocent bystanders to a crime, and people who have inside information about criminal or corrupt activity.
Witness protection can involve relocating the person (including creating a new identity). It may also extend to the relatives and associates of the person. The program operates under the Witness Protection Act 2000.
- Read more about witness protection.
