This media release is about the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission's release of its NSW Police Force Aboriginal Strategy Direction 2018-2023 monitoring report.

Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, 'Commission urges NSW Police force to publish a Closing the Gap delivery plan' (Media Release, 23 October 2023)

The law places limits on how police operate. Within those limits, police have a large amount of discretion about how they act. The way police use their discretion shapes people’s experiences with the criminal legal system and has been repeatedly linked to the over-representation of Aboriginal people in custody.

Police discretion

Diversions are options that police can use to prevent people from entering or continuing in the criminal legal system. Law and policy place some conditions on when diversions can be used. Police also have discretion about whether to use diversions. Research shows that diversions are underused for Aboriginal people, especially...

Document

Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, 'Commission urges NSW Police force to publish a Closing the Gap delivery plan' (Media Release, 23 October 2023)

Police discretion

Policing and diversions