Serious police officer misconduct allegations more than double in Tasmania

Tasmania Police has recorded a more than doubling in the number of the most serious officer misconduct allegations, according to internal complaints data released by the organisation.

The annually released data covers complaints from the public and those raised internally, rated from Level 1 to Level 3, with Level 3 being the most serious.

Level 3 complaints — the category reserved for alleged criminal behaviour or conduct that could justify dismissal — climbed to 34, its highest level since reporting began in 2023.

Level 3 complaints against officers included a number of separate violence-related allegations, a matter alleging possession of child exploitation material, and a drug complaint.

In that category, in 2025, Tasmania Police received 15 public complaints and 19 internally raised matters, a combined 34 serious matters over the year.

The figure has continued rising over the past three years, jumping from 13 in 2023 to 25 in 2024.

Many of the total of 514 allegations across all levels resulted in no breach of the code of conduct, or were dismissed by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Complaints prompt terminations, resignations

The 2025 report detailed multiple violence-related allegations, including one case, first received in January 2023, which resulted in an officer's termination.

Another case in April 2024 alleged three counts of family violence, resulting in a conviction and the officer's resignation.

The 2025 report also detailed a serious matter raised internally in April of that year that included allegations of possessing child exploitation material, alongside multiple other allegations.

The matter resulted in a code-of-conduct breach finding and the officer's resignation, with the matter now under active criminal investigation, according to Tasmania Police.

Another internally raised matter received in September 2024 involved allegations of strangulation and family violence.

The report noted the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions and recorded as no prosecution, with the officer later resigning.

A separate complaint received in September 2025 was listed as a criminal drugs matter, and recorded as "dismissed".

Appropriate responses 'vital'

Level 1 complaints are lower-level issues that do not breach the Police Service Act code of conduct, while Level 2 matters are treated as potential code-of-conduct breaches.

Level 3 matters are treated as potential code breaches or criminal behaviour and, if proven, may warrant termination or involve serious offences.

In a statement accompanying the report's release, Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins said that while the number of complaints was low relative to the "thousands of interactions" police had with the community each year, it was "vital that all complaints are appropriately responded to".

"When a complaint is made, either by a member of the community or raised internally by another police officer, the community must have confidence that these matters are investigated appropriately and outcomes are publicly available," said Deputy Commissioner Higgins.

Tasmania Police also reports annually through the Report on Government Services on complaints against police.

The Police Association of Tasmania acting president, Nick Grubb, said the increase in internally raised matters "is not necessarily a negative indicator".

"It’s also important to recognise that a complaint does not automatically equate to wrongdoing."

Mr Grubb said the association was "broadly satisfied" that Tasmania Police had a structured complaints process.

"That said, no process is perfect. We remain willing to work constructively with the department to ensure the system remains fair, timely and properly resourced," he said.

Historical abuse matters against police progress

Tasmania Police also provided an update on the seven officers referred for investigation following the Weiss Independent Review into Paul Reynolds.

The review was announced in October 2023 to investigate the conduct of now-deceased police officer Paul Reynolds.

Reynolds took his own life while under investigation over multiple child sexual abuse offences in 2018.

The report criticised other officers' handling of accusations against Reynolds, who went on to groom more than 50 boys and young men over three decades.

The update showed one former police officer who is facing allegations of child sexual abuse between 1984 and 1987 had been arrested and charged.

Another former police officer, alleged to have committed child sexual abuse in 1999, was referred to the DPP, which recommended no prosecution, having regard to available evidence, public interest and the likelihood of a conviction.

As of December 2025, there was no further update for the five remaining referrals.

Of those cases, one also resulted in the DPP recommending no prosecution.

Two resulted in no code-of-conduct breach findings, and one resulted in a restorative justice process between the victim and the police commissioner.

One referral is listed as having unverified information, with the victim unknown.