WHAT IS THE ETHICAL STANDARDS COMMAND?

THE Ethical Standards Command (ESC) is responsible for managing the internal discipline process within the Queensland Police Service (QPS).

The ESC promotes ethical behaviour and professional practice with the goal of ensuring the community has full confidence and respect for the service.

A complaint about police behaviour is processed through five steps – assessment, inquiry, action, outcome and review.

Both the ESC and the Crime and Corruption Commission (CCC) play a role.

When a misconduct complaint is received it is assessed by a committee including representatives from ESC and the CCC.

The matter can either be handled internally by the ESC or sent to a police district to investigate.

Each police district is assigned a professional practices manager (PPM) that sits under the ESC. This person reports directly to an Assistant Commissioner or director.

Senior management and the PPM discuss the best course of action and assign a case officer.

A case officer is tasked to either conduct a full investigation, make “assessment inquiries” as to whether an investigation is required, or provide managerial resolution.

If serious issues are discovered a matter can be escalated, and the CCC involved. When an assessment inquiry is conducted a “running log” is sent to the PPM with a summary.

The PPM should make appropriate recommendations and discuss the matter with senior management before returning the response to the ESC for consideration.

The investigation report is reviewed by a case manager and when satisfied that all inquiries have been undertaken, a decision is made on whether it amounts to breaches of discipline or misconduct.