Rise in Serious Misconduct Allegations and Oversight Scrutiny for Tasmania Police

A review of recent reports and official data indicates a rise in serious misconduct allegations against Tasmania Police officers, alongside ongoing public and parliamentary scrutiny of how the force handles complaints against its own members. This includes specific cases of domestic and sexual violence allegations, historical child sexual abuse, and annual statistics showing a record number of Level 3 misconduct complaints.

Rise in Serious Misconduct Complaints

Internal Tasmania Police data shows a significant increase in Level 3 misconduct allegations, the most serious category covering alleged criminal behavior or conduct that could lead to dismissal.

The number of Level 3 complaints rose from 13 in 2023 to 25 in 2024, reaching a record 34 in 2025 since annual reporting began.
These 2025 complaints included 15 from the public and 19 raised internally within the police force.
The allegations encompassed multiple violence-related matters, a case involving alleged possession of child exploitation material, and a drug-related complaint.

Deputy Commissioner Jonathan Higgins stated that while complaint numbers are low relative to total police-community interactions, it is important all complaints are investigated appropriately and outcomes are made public.

Reported outcomes from recent Level 3 cases include:

An officer's termination following a January 2023 violence-related allegation.
An officer's resignation after a conviction on three counts of family violence in April 2024.
An April 2025 internal matter, involving allegations including possession of child exploitation material, which led to a code-of-conduct breach finding and the officer's resignation. This remains under active criminal investigation.
An officer's resignation after a September 2024 internal matter alleging strangulation and family violence was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), which recorded no prosecution.
A September 2025 criminal drugs matter listed as dismissed.

Nick Grubb, acting president of the Police Association of Tasmania, noted that an increase in internally raised matters can indicate officers are identifying and reporting potential misconduct.

Scrutiny of Specific Domestic Violence Case

A separate case has raised questions about police procedures for investigating colleagues. A woman, referred to as Laura, reported that a police family violence order (PFVO) was issued against her in 2021 based on allegations by her former partner, a police officer. A later internal review found the PFVO had "no legal basis," as there was no evidence she had been violent, abusive, threatening, or intimidating. The order was revoked and her legal fees reimbursed.

Laura subsequently reported her ex-partner for alleged rape and sexual assault. The DPP recommended further investigation into the rape allegation and that the sexual assault complaint be referred to an interstate police force. Laura states an investigator told her he made a "judgement call" not to make the interstate referral for over two years. She also raised concerns about a potential conflict of interest, noting one investigator played sport socially with the accused officer.

Following a formal complaint by Laura in late 2024, Deputy Commissioner Higgins responded that an inquiry found no conflict of interest that precluded the officer from the investigation. He stated that while regrettable, the failure to send the file sooner did not breach the code of conduct. The accused officer was not charged in relation to Laura's complaints and was not stood down during the investigations.

In response to this and similar cases, lawyers and advocates, including Angela Sdrinis and Greg Barns SC, have called for an independent body, separate from police, to investigate allegations of family and sexual violence against serving officers.

Historical Child Abuse Allegations and Parliamentary Calls

The handling of historical allegations against officers is also under examination. This centers on former officer Paul Reynolds, who died by suicide in 2018 while under investigation for child sexual abuse. A 2024 review by Regina Weiss identified up to 52 male victims over 30 years and criticized the police response to a 2008 report that referenced Reynolds as a "paedophile."

The review noted that after Reynolds' death, then-Commissioner Darren Hine authorized a full police funeral. Commissioner Hine sent a memo to the then-police minister detailing some allegations two days prior to the funeral. Current Commissioner Donna Adams has since apologized for the decision to hold the funeral.

The Tasmanian Greens have announced they will push for a parliamentary inquiry into the police handling of the Reynolds allegations and the decision to grant the funeral. Greens leader Rosalie Woodruff stated the Weiss Review's scope was too narrow to fully examine police responses in 2008 or 2018, or the circumstances around the funeral. The Greens plan to seek a parliamentary committee with powers to hold hearings and procure documents.

Oversight Mechanisms and Official Responses

Tasmania Police has a policy for responding to family violence involving employees and an internal Family and Sexual Violence Involving Police Review Committee, established in 2022.

For public oversight, complaints about alleged police misconduct can be made to Tasmania's Integrity Commission. An independent review into a separate case of police sexual abuse found the Commission's "investigative powers are lacking and ... are not fit for purpose." The Integrity Commission has called for more funding, stating current resources are insufficient.

In official statements, Deputy Commissioner Higgins said Tasmania Police is "not able to publicly comment on specific cases" but continues to focus on organizational improvement. Police Minister Felix Ellis reiterated that statement and noted the existence of the internal review committee.

Update on Weiss Review Referrals

Tasmania Police provided an update on seven officers referred for investigation following the Weiss Review into Paul Reynolds. As of December 2025:

One former officer was arrested and charged with child sexual abuse allegations from 1984-1987.
Another former officer, accused of child sexual abuse in 1999, was referred to the DPP, which recommended no prosecution.
For the five remaining referrals: one also resulted in a DPP recommendation of no prosecution; two had no code-of-conduct breach findings; one led to a restorative justice process; and one has unverified information with an unknown victim.