Police accountability

Information on police powers and your rights, and resources to help you make police complaints.

On this page

Typical police accountability problems

RLC provides free and confidential legal advice to people across NSW about police powers.

We also provide advice on decision-making by government agencies and complaints processes administered by government.

We can advise you about issues including:

  • Police harassment
  • General searches
  • Strip searches
  • Arrests
  • Excessive force
  • Failure to investigate
  • Fines, including COVID-19 fines
  • Access to police records

We offer representation in matters involving serious complaints about the police. 

Please note: RLC does not advise on most criminal matters.

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Our services that can help

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Page

Free and confidential legal advice for people across NSW about police powers.
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Topic

Redfern Legal Centre provides a priority service to First Nations people across all of our legal services.

Other important contacts

How to contact us

To request free legal advice about police complaints, or police and government accountability:

complete our online form call 02 9698 7277

If we are able to advise you, we will arrange for a solicitor to call you back. If we are not able to assist you we may refer you to other services and resources, including those listed below. Learn more about accessing our services.

RLC and Slater and Gordon Lawyers have issued a class action proceeding for people who have been unlawfully searched by NSW Police at all music festivals in NSW since 22 July 2016.
Girl crowd surfing at music festival

Police powers self-help topics

Prior to making a police complaint, it is generally recommended you apply to obtain police records relating to your complaint matter. To obtain police records you must make an application under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 (NSW).

If you’ve been stopped or arrested by police this incident may have been filmed. You can ask to see this footage or request that the footage not be destroyed using the templates and information below:

If you are attending a public protest, it is important to know your rights and the limits of police powers.

See also

Harsh new protest laws passed in NSW (March 2022)

Factsheets and links to information to help you deal with fines, or request a review if you believe you have been fined incorrectly.

Fines lawcodes

Type in the fine lawcode/ offence code which is usually located on the penalty notice to see details of the offence on the NSW Lawcode Database.

Search lawcodeS

Other useful links

Law Enforcement Conduct Commission

NSW Police Complaints Unit

Law reform updates

Girl crowd surfing at music festival
News

RLC and Slater and Gordon Lawyers have issued a class action proceeding for people who have been unlawfully searched by NSW Police at all music festivals in NSW since 22 July 2016.

Police accountability news

Media releases

Redfern Legal Centre (RLC) has released a new report that reveals over a thousand children (aged 10-17 years) have been strip searched by NSW Police within a seven year period from June 2016 to July 2023. The report written by RLC solicitors, Samantha Lee and Josh Raj -‘The Need for Reform: Strip Searches of Children by NSW Police’ collates data about the number of children strip searched by NSW Police. The data was obtained from NSW Police via access to information law.
News

17 March 2024 Dear Premier Minns, Don't turn your back on Closing the Gap. Throwing more children in jail will make crime worse in regional communities, not better. Throwing more children in jail will lead to horrific outcomes for communities, families and those children, compounding abuse and trauma. Throwing more children in jail will cause unspeakable damage to Closing The Gap and efforts to create a better future for Aboriginal children in NSW.

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Gadigal Land, PO Box 1805,
Strawberry Hills NSW 2012