4.7 Ethical Standards Command

The Ethical Standards Command (ESC) manages the internal discipline process and is responsible for promoting ethical behaviour and professional practice within the Service.

The Command consists of:

• Ethical Practice Branch;
• Inspectorate and Evaluation Branch;
• Internal Audit; and
• Internal Investigations Branch.

Command Support

The Chief Superintendent, ESC is responsible to the Assistant Commissioner for the coordination of the operations of the three branches and for the intelligence and administrative support to the command.

The Chief Superintendent, ESC is also responsible for the coordination and support of the QPS members selected to perform duty with the International Deployment Group and Task Force ‘Themis’.

The administration section’s role is to manage complaint files and general correspondence files and administer and manage inspection, internal audit and research and evaluation files.

ESC Administration is responsible for:

• The development, maintenance, modification and finalisation of complaint files and general correspondence files;
• The preparation of daily complaint summaries for the State Coordinator, Internal Investigations Branch;
• The provision of support and advice pertaining to complaint files and general correspondence files to members of IIB, CMC, Regional Complaint Managers and members the subject of investigations;
• The provision of clerical support to members of Internal Investigations Branch;
• Maintenance and modification of the Client Service System complaint database;
• Transcribing, lodging and where applicable destruction of tape recorded records of interview; and
• Reception duties for the Command, IIB and IEB.

Ethical Practice Branch

The Ethical Practice Branch (EPB) has a number of responsibilities aimed at informing, advising, assisting and supporting members with respect to matters which impact on the professionalism and integrity of the QPS.

The EPB is responsible for:

• Vetting of QPS employees and potential QPS employees when required.
• Increasing ethics awareness throughout the Service;
• Providing state-wide training in all aspects of the discipline and risk management processes;
• Maintaining a coordinated program to advise, assist and support QPS employees who report misconduct and breaches of discipline by others;
• Conducting research;
• Risk management coordination for the entire Service; and
• Profiling, risk analysis and intelligence related to professional practice and performance management.

Inspectorate and Evaluation Branch

The Inspectorate and Evaluation Branch (IEB) incorporating the Inspection Program and the Review and Evaluation Unit provides an independent assessment of managerial, administrative and operational functions to promote professionalism, strategic thinking and best management practice within the Service adding value to management efforts to improve performance, accountability and integrity.

Together with Internal Audit, the IEB is responsible for conducting inspections, systems analysis, operational audits, reviews and evaluations throughout the QPS.  The QPS Audit Charter further defines these roles.

IEB also coordinates and conducts evaluations of major initiatives and emerging issues that may impact upon policing, to promote strategic thinking, effective management and best practice within the Service.

IEB is also responsible for providing state wide Inspection Skills Training to Commissioned Officers.

Internal Audit

The role of Internal Audit (IA) is to assist the Commissioner in meeting his obligations in accordance with Section 36 of the Financial Administration and Audit Act 1977 to achieve the Service’s corporate objectives through the provision of information and independent professional advice which is timely, relevant and accurate.

The Audit Charter sets out IA’s responsibilities and the authority conferred on it by the Commissioner, by ensuring that controls adequately support:

• The reliability and integrity of financial and operational information and the means used to identify, measure, classify and report such information;
• The establishment of systems to ensure compliance with the Service’s policies, plans, procedures, laws, regulations and delegations of authority which have a significant impact on operations and reports;
• The establishment of controls to safeguard assets from loss, theft and/or fraud, and, as appropriate, confirm the existence of QPS assets;
• The economy and efficiency with which resources are managed and employed;
• The existence of operations and programs to determine whether results are consistent with established objectives and goals, and whether they are being carried out as planned;
• The existence of processes to identify and implement best practice in the management of QPS programs; and
• The existence of processes to enable a cooperative working relationship with other units of Ethical Standards Command in the performance of audits on a needs basis.

Internal Investigations Branch

The role of the Internal Investigations Branch (IIB) is to manage the QPS discipline process.

Pursuant to Section 4.8 of the Police Service Administration Act 1990 the Commissioner of Police is responsible for the efficient and proper administration, management and functioning of the Police Service, including the ‘Discipline of Members of the Service’.

The Commissioner of Police has, under Section 4.10 of the Police Service Administration Act 1990, delegated his powers, functions and duties under Chapter 2, Part 3 of the Crime and Misconduct Act 2001 relating to discipline to the Assistant Commissioner, Ethical Standards Command.  Accordingly the Assistant Commissioner ESC co-ordinates and directs the complaint process within the Service and is the central point of liaison between the Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) and the Service.

The CMC may refer misconduct matters to the Service to be dealt with as the CMC and Assistant Commissioner ESC direct.  All matters of misconduct must be overviewed by the ESC before any action is taken.  The ESC and CMC audit and review how complaints, regardless of their classification, are dealt with.  Breaches of discipline are the responsibility of Regions/Commands and Directorates and are dealt with and finalised at the local/regional level with the outcomes of those complaints recorded at ESC.

IIB has responsibility for:

• Complaint management for the Service;
• Monitoring and investigating allegations of misconduct and other matters including police related incidents as directed by the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioner, or Assistant Commissioner ESC against members of the Service;
• Actively overviewing and auditing regional/command internal discipline activity;
• The provision of advice to members of the public on matters pertaining to the discipline process; and
• Ensuring that complaints are investigated within the timeframes set out in the Human Resource Management Manual (Chapter 18).