Commonwealth Ombudsman logo

Australian Federal Police

Complaints made on or after 30 December 2006

The Ombudsman is also the Law Enforcement Ombudsman and can investigate complaints about the actions of AFP members and about the policies, practices and procedures of the AFP as an agency.

Anyone can make a complaint about the AFP, but we encourage you to try to resolve your concerns with the AFP before you make a complaint to the Law Enforcement Ombudsman.

AFP Professional Standards (PRS) is responsible for resolving complaints about the actions of AFP appointees in accordance with Part V of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.

If you remain dissatisfied after making a complaint to the AFP, then you can make a complaint to the Commonwealth Ombudsman under the Ombudsman Act 1976.

You can complain about the conduct or actions of individual AFP members; or the policies or procedures of the AFP as an agency.

You can make a complaint to any of the Ombudsman's offices around Australia. You can complain by letter, telephone, fax, in person or online.

If you don't speak English very well the Ombudsman's office can arrange for an interpreter. There are procedures for prisoners or people in custody to communicate confidentially with the Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman reports to the Parliament, at least annually, on the comprehensiveness and adequacy of the AFP’s complaint handling.

Complaints made before 30 December 2006

If you lodged a complaint about the AFP before 30 December 2006 then the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the AFP's Professional Standards have joint responsibility for handling your complaint under the Complaints (Australian Federal Police) Act 1981.

If you complained directly to the AFP, the Ombudsman's office must be informed that the AFP received your complaint. The Ombudsman monitors all AFP complaint investigations. The AFP must also report to the Ombudsman on the progress and outcome of your complaint.

In special cases, the Ombudsman may conduct an investigation or supervise a special investigation into your complaint, for example, if you are complaining about the AFP's internal investigation team.

Minor complaints, for example complaints about rudeness, practices or procedures, and misunderstandings about the law are generally handled through 'workplace resolution'. During the 'workplace resolution' process, an AFP supervisor will speak to you and deal directly with you about your complaint.

The supervisor may be able to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction by explaining the law or the police practices; or by bringing your concerns to the attention of the AFP member who was the subject of your complaint. This process continues until you and the AFP supervisor are satisfied with the outcome. When a complaint is finalised through the workplace resolution process, the AFP provides a report to the Ombudsman explaining how it managed or investigated the complaint.

If the Ombudsman is not satisfied with the AFP's investigation of your complaint, he can ask the AFP to reconsider its recommendations; require the AFP's Professional Standards team to investigate further; conduct his own investigation; or make any other recommendation.