National police integrity research forum
On 7-8 June 2012, the CMC hosted a national police integrity agency research forum.
Twenty six delegates from the following police integrity agencies attended:
- Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity
- Commonwealth Ombudsman (AFP and ACT Policing)
- Corruption and Crime Commission (Western Australia)
- New South Wales Ombudsman
- New South Wales Police Integrity Commission
- Northern Territory Ombudsman
- Victorian Office of Police Integrity
- Tasmanian Integrity Commission.
Staff from the Australian Institute of Criminology and the Centre for Excellence in Policing and Security at Griffith University also attended.
Agenda
On 7 June, participants focussed on police use of force, Taser-use issues and the challenges associated with researching and monitoring police use of force.
On 8 June they covered a range of issues including:
- researching unethical police behaviour
- ethical research methods
- strategies to prevent and effectively investigate unauthorised disclosure of confidential police information
- overseeing police investigations of police misconduct
- developing and monitoring recommendations to drive reform.
Overseas guest
International police use of force expert, Professor Geoffrey Alpert, presented at the forum and participated in a panel discussion. Professor Alpert, from the University of South Carolina, is currently in Australia working with the Centre for Excellence in Policing and Security.
Outcomes
Some of the workshop sessions resulted in the development of strategies for conducting effective research with police and for monitoring police investigations into police misconduct.
The future
The forum is expected to become an annual event, hosted by different police integrity agencies. Every second year it will complement the Australian Public Sector Anti-Corruption (APSAC) Conference.
