Frequently Asked Questions - General
Q. What is OPI’s focus?
A. At OPI, our focus is on ensuring Victoria Police is a corruption-resistant organisation.
- Our Corruption Prevention and Education Unit works to identify corruption and misconduct risks and then works with Victoria Police and other agencies to develop practical solutions for building police integrity.
- OPI’s public reports and investigations play the vital role of exposing corrupt conduct, encouraging others to come forward and sending a strong message to police that those who act corruptly are at high risk of being caught and prosecuted.
- Our complaint investigation reviews monitor police practices and, together with policy reviews, support Victoria Police efforts to improve ethical and professional standards, manage poor conduct and punish corrupt behaviour.
Q. Is OPI part of Victoria Police?
A. No, OPI is not part of Victoria Police. OPI is an independent body established by the Victorian Government to:
- Ensure the highest ethical and professional standards are maintained in Victoria Police.
- Detect, investigate and prevent police corruption and serious misconduct.
- Educate Victoria Police and the general community about police corruption and serious misconduct and their effects.
- Ensure members of Victoria Police have regard to human rights.
Q. Is OPI part of Ombudsman Victoria?
A. No, OPI is an independent and separate office to Ombudsman Victoria. The Victorian Ombudsman, Mr George Brouwer, ceased being the Director, Police Integrity on 30 April 2008. The Parliament appointed Mr Michael Strong, a former Judge of the County Court to be OPI Director, commencing 1 May 2008.
Q. What is the difference between OPI and the Ethical Standards Department of Victoria Police?
A. OPI is an external body set up by Parliament as an independent police anti-corruption and oversight agency. The Ethical Standards Department of Victoria Police is a department within Victoria Police that investigates police misconduct and corruption and deals with service delivery and disciplinary issues. The Ethical Standards Department is responsible for notifying OPI about complaints to Victoria Police and making sure matters referred by OPI for investigation are investigated. OPI monitors and reviews Ethical Standards Department investigations of complaints referred by OPI and makes recommendations for improvements. Sometimes OPI Officers and members of the Ethical Standards Department work together on investigations.
Q. Can OPI help me access information, including personal information held by the police?
A. No, we do not assist you with accessing information held by Victoria Police. You must apply to Victoria Police under the Freedom of Information legislation for the release of information. If you want to complain about how Victoria Police has dealt with your Freedom of Information application you can complain to:
Ombudsman Victoria
Level 9, 459 Collins Street (North Tower)
Melbourne Victoria 3000
Telephone: (03) 9613 6222
Toll Free: 1800 806 314
Email: ombudvic@ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Website: www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au
Q. How does OPI define ‘corruption’?
A. We use the following as a working definition:
‘Corruption’ means a deliberate act or acts of dishonesty, abuse of public trust, breach of the law, or abuse of power that undermines or is against the interests of Victoria Police and is incompatible with the impartial exercise of official duties.
Corruption is usually motivated by self-interest, but an action does not have to result in personal profit to be considered corrupt. For example, corrupt conduct might involve the abuse of power or authority to improperly obtain a benefit for someone else, or it could involve protecting others who have engaged in corrupt or criminal conduct.
For more information and examples of corrupt behaviour, please see our Fact Sheets.
