Media release - Responses to LECC Five Years (2017-2022) of Independent Monitoring of NSW Police Force Critical Incident Investigations

Monday, 18 September 2023

The NSW Police Force will update the mental health training provided to officers, in an official response agreeing with a recommendation from the Commission’s Five Years of Independent Monitoring of NSWPF Critical Incident Investigations Report.

The Commission’s Report highlighted the need for better mental health training for police and improved practices around critical incidents.

The NSW Police Force has provided a response to the report outlining that their Crime Prevention Command has engaged with NSW Health and Ambulance Service NSW and is preparing a holistic training package for all NSW Police officers.

The Commission was notified that the new training package will be delivered to all NSW Police Officers based on their experience and position within the NSW Police Force. 

Training delivery will be available online, face to face, via experiential learning, Commissioner’s Directives, defensive tactics / scenario based training and developmental learning as required.

Police have agreed to provide more timely information about critical incidents to the Commission.

However, they did not agree with the Commission’s recommendations to consider taking interim steps to address risks identified during the critical incident investigation, but before the end of coronial proceedings. 

Police have also not agreed to provide the Commission with the reasons why a critical incident has not been declared, according to their official response.  

A file of the NSW Police Force’s response to the Commission’s Five Years of Independent Monitoring of NSWPF Critical Incident Investigations Report can be downloaded here and the Commission’s Five Years of Independent Monitoring of NSWPF Critical Incident Investigations Report can be found here.