Office of Police Integrity

The Office of Police Integrity (OPI) is a Victorian independent police oversight and anti-corruption agency established by the Victorian Government in November 2004. OPI’s official role is to ensure that the highest ethical and professional standards are maintained in Victoria Police, to detect, investigate and prevent police corruption and serious misconduct and to ensure that police members have regard to the human rights set out in the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities.

OPI reports direct to the Victorian Parliament.

History

Prior to 2004, criminal investigations in Victoria had exposed alleged links between the underworld and police. OPI was established in response to a widespread concern within the Victorian community about the integrity of its police and the effectiveness of arrangements for oversight and review of police conduct.

Prior to this, the police complaints function belonged with the Ombudsman but it was limited to monitoring and reviewing complaint investigations conducted by police. Only in very limited circumstances could the Ombudsman investigate those complaints himself. The legislation creating the new Office of Police Integrity importantly gave the Director the power to conduct own motion investigations.

The office has conducted a large number of investigations, some of which have included public hearings or have resulted in parliamentary reports. The office has also made a...
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