The Crime and Corruption Commission’s (CCC) 2015-16 Annual Report was tabled in State Parliament today and details how the CCC continues to protect Queenslanders against major crime and public sector corruption.
Throughout the 2015-16 financial year, 116 investigations were finalised resulting in 92 people being charged with over 750 separate criminal offences.
CCC Chairperson Alan MacSporran QC said he was privileged to introduce his first Annual Report.
“Since commencing as CCC Chairperson, I have been struck by the breadth of the CCC’s activities and the dedication and skill of its staff,” Mr MacSporran said.
“The agency brings together under one roof the necessary tools, expertise and unique powers to enable us to meet our important statutory obligations of combating major crime and reducing corruption in the public sector.”
In 2015-16, the CCC received 2674 complaints of corrupt conduct, involving 6736 separate allegations of corruption. This is a 12 per cent increase compared with last financial year. Of these complaints, 64 per cent related to police and 36 per cent related to public sector agencies, including local governments. The CCC retained 73 matters for investigation.
An area of focus for the CCC is the excessive use of force by Queensland police officers. As at 30 June 2016, two police officers had been charged by the CCC with allegedly using excessive force and 13 matters remained under investigation. The CCC was also closely monitoring 44 matters the Queensland Police Service were investigating relating to excessive use of force.
The misuse of confidential information remains one of the most common types of complaints received by the CCC. In 2015-16, the CCC finalised 17 investigations relating to the alleged access and distribution of confidential information resulting in 86 criminal charges.
The CCC’s major crime investigations focused on the illicit drug markets that cause the greatest harm to Queensland, especially crystal methylamphetamine (ice). In 2015-16, Operation Gloss and Operation Amulet were finalised and resulted in over 200 charges, including drug trafficking, drug production and the supply of dangerous drugs.
The CCC also published an intelligence assessment of illicit drug markets in Queensland to alert the community to the changing dynamics within those drug markets.
Cold-call investment frauds (CCIF) were targeted by the CCC in 2015-16. The CCC held intelligence hearings into 11 CCIF syndicates revealing five had direct links with Australian organised crime identities or outlaw motorcycle gangs. This intelligence was shared with the law enforcement community.
The CCC continued to identify and charge criminals for the possession and distribution of child exploitation material. Seventeen people were charged with 252 offences in 2015-16.
The CCC held 334 days of coercive hearings, including 55 days of intelligence hearings, which significantly advanced both CCC and QPS investigations and resulted in 81 people being charged with criminal offences.
In 2015–16, the CCC exceeded the annual target for the recovery of proceeds of crime. Assets to the value of $10.01m were forfeited to the State, exceeding the $7m target.
A copy of the 2015-16 Annual Report is available here.
ENDS
