If you want to make a complaint about the police, first contact a community legal centre or Victoria Legal Aid for legal advice.
You can make a complaint to:
• The police at any time. If you are being signed out from the police station the police will ask if you have any complaints. If you do not feel comfortable making a complaint at this time you can still do it later.
• Any police officer in charge of a police station (it doesn’t have to be the station where you were charged).
• A police duty inspector.
(In my experience, the police rarely take action against thier own members, so try out some of the following ways)
• The Deputy Ombudsman (Police Complaints)
Level 22/459 Collins Street
Melbourne 3000
9613 6222 or 1800 806 314
• For complaints about Federal Police
The Ombudsman (Commonwealth)
Level 10/2 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne 3000
9654 7355 or 1300 362 072
• A police officer from the Ethical Standards Department
(Customer Assistance Unit)
Level 2 Flinders Tower
World Trade Centre
637 Flinders Street
Melbourne 3005
1300 363 101
ethical.standards@police.vic.gov.au : The Police Conduct Unit is responsible for actioning compliments and complaints about behaviour of members of Victoria Police.
http://www.legalaid.vic.gov.au/upload/police_powers.pdf (if you any of your rights have been infringed, you should check out this booklet on legal rights and police powers.
You can also contact legal aid which is a free legal advice service to see what legal options you have regarding your problem with the police. They can send you in right direction.
If you still feel like your not getting anywhere, contact Today Tonight or A cuurunt Affairs. This normally works. The last thing the Police Department want is for thier name to be dragged through the national media.
