Assaults make up for 20 per cent of complaints against police: report

The independent broad based anti-corruption commission on Thursday released a report concerning police oversight which showed it had received more than 1600 complaints about police behaviour in 2014-15, with nearly 3000 different allegations levelled against police.

IBAC, which replaced the Office of Police Integrity, has analysed 1313 allegations against police over the six months to June 30 this year.

The study found that 20 per cent of complaints were for assault.

Inappropriate behaviour and duty failure was the biggest source of complaints with 55 per cent.

"Inappropriate behaviour includes customer service matters such as rudeness, insensitivity or an alleged failure to investigate," the report says.

IBAC's analysis found that most complaints were made against lower-ranked officers, which includes all categories of constables and sergeants.

The commission also examined the register of complaints and serious incidents and found that 5 per cent of the total sworn workforce were responsible for over 20 per cent of all complaints made against police.

"Further, that 5 per cent of officers have accumulated nine or more complaints individually during their careers," the report said.

As a result IBAC is looking at identified high-risk police officers and the effectiveness of the systems and processes that Victoria Police has in place to manage them.

The commission has also been working on how to deal with the emerging risk of organised crime groups targeting Victorian public servants – including Victoria Police officers – to gain access to information and systems or to influence behaviour.

"Organised crime groups have demonstrated that they are creative and flexible when targeting public sector employees and will use platforms such as social media to identify and cultivate vulnerable individuals," the report says.

A more detailed report on this issue is due later this year.