Complaint trends and insights

Over the past five financial years the number of complaints received by the CCC about the QPS has generally increased, although since 2024–25 this trend has shown a decline. The increasing trend is consistent with increases observed by the CCC across all sectors and is in line with growth in Queensland’s population, growth in the QPS workforce, and changing rates of reported crime.

Trends in the complaints received by the CCC about the QPS include:

• Most complaints received by the CCC related to alleged corruption by police officers, which is consistent with about two-thirds of the QPS workforce being sworn police officers, their exercise of legal and statutory powers and having greater interactions with the public compared to civilian employees at the QPS. 
• Most complaints received by the CCC related to QPS employees working in Regional Operations Command, which is consistent with a higher number of employees being attached to districts and groups in frontline policing and operational roles.
• Brisbane, South Eastern and North Coast Regions feature prevalently in complaints received by the CCC, which is consistent with their larger communities, demand on policing services and larger workforces.
• Responding to incidents, investigating offences and managing confidential information are high-risk activities for the sector. Complaints received by the CCC about the QPS commonly relate to:
  • Responses to incidents and investigating offences — which includes conduct by police during the response to an incident or event, such as when responding to a call for assistance by a member of the public, or during an investigation.
  • Arrests and detection — such as conduct during the process of a police officer bringing a person under control and usually, but not necessarily, arresting or formally detaining the person.
  • Behaviours unrelated to a work function — which includes behaviours not related to or arising from their position of authority (regardless of whether they were on or off duty at the time of conduct).
  • Information control and management — such as the handling and use of confidential information, access to systems and alleged unauthorised or inappropriate release of information. 
• Corruption risks vary based on role and level of interaction with the community. High-risk activities for staff members in frontline roles, such as unsworn watchhouse officers, are similar to risks for sworn police officers, influenced by their high levels of interaction with the public, including vulnerable and at-risk groups. Corruption risks for staff members are comparable to other public sector employees given the broad range of corporate and administrative activities they undertake, such as human resource management, information control, management of public assets, and service delivery.
• Most complaints about the QPS were received from the public, which reflects the frontline nature of policing and the volume of interactions they have with members of the community.
• In line with the CCC’s statutory corruption functions, we only investigate or monitor the most serious or systemic cases of police misconduct or corrupt conduct. Due to the volume of complaints we receive and the principles of co-operation, capacity building and devolution, most QPS complaints were referred to the QPS to deal with. Any matter referred to the QPS to deal with may be monitored by the CCC to ensure transparency and accountability.
• The CCC is informed of, and oversees investigations into, police-related deaths (a death that has happened during, or as a result of, police operations; or a death in custody). These deaths commonly involve a person who was the target of a police operation self-harming during the operation or while in custody; a death during a police pursuit; or from the discharge of a police firearm. 
• The CCC also has an oversight role in significant events involving police that result in serious injury to an alleged offender. These commonly relate to the use of force by police, or injuries an alleged offender sustained during an arrest or while in custody.