Feedback and complaints
The AFP welcomes positive feedback and supports your right to complain.
Making a complaint about the Australian Federal Police Brochure (PDF, 946kB)
On this page:
Your right to complain
The AFP supports your right to complain. You can complain about:
- the conduct or actions of individual AFP appointees, or
- the practices and procedures of the AFP.
A complaint can be made even in circumstances where:
- the conduct or actions of the appointee occurred outside of Australia
- the appointee was off-duty and their conduct breaches the AFP professional standards, or
- the complainant cannot fully identify the AFP appointee concerned.
How to complain
A complaint must be lodged directly with the AFP. A complaint can be lodged by:
- completing an online form
- attending or telephoning any AFP police station or office, or
- contacting or writing to Professional Standards.
Complaint process
The AFP Professional Standards portfolio is responsible for the oversight and investigation of all complaints received by the AFP.
Minor complaints relating to discourtesy, minor misconduct and underperformance issues will be actioned by managers within the workplace and will generally involve an independent AFP appointee dealing directly with the complainant to resolve the issue. Minor complaints can commonly be resolved through explanation of the law, explanation of police practice or by bringing the complainants concerns to the attention of the AFP appointee who is the subject of the complaint. The outcomes of minor complaints are oversighted by the Professional Standards portfolio.
Serious complaints relating to serious misconduct, serious neglect of duty or breaches of the criminal law by AFP appointees will be investigated by the Professional Standards portfolio.
Complaints relating to corruption matters will be referred by the AFP Commissioner to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) for appropriate action.
All complaints are subject to external oversight by the Commonwealth Law Enforcement Ombudsman and corruption matters are subject to oversight by the ACLEI.
Complainants will be notified of the outcome of a complaint at completion of the process.
Online forms
Complaints
These online forms may be used to lodge a complaint about the conduct or actions of individual AFP appointees, or the practices and procedures of the AFP.
| Title | Description | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Complaint form | Complain about the conduct of an AFP appointee, providing your own contact details. | See Professional standards |
| Complaint form - on behalf of | Complain about the conduct of an AFP appointee on behalf of someone else. | See Professional standards |
| Complaint form - anonymous | Complain about the conduct of an AFP appointee anonymously. | See Professional standards |
It is important to ensure that all fields are completed with as much information as possible to avoid any unnecessary delay in processing your form.
If you have difficulties completing the forms, please contact AFP Professional Standards.
Positive feedback
Use this form to provide positive feedback in relation to an AFP appointee. Alternatively you may attend or telephone any AFP police station or office, or write to AFP Professional Standards.
| Title | Description | More information |
|---|---|---|
| Online feedback form | Provide positive feedback about an AFP appointee. | See Professional standards |
Contact
| Professional Standards Operations Monitoring Centre | Professional Standards Operations Monitoring Centre | Ph: (02) 6218 2377 |