Statement of Affairs

Under the Freedom of Information Act 1989, each NSW Government department and agency is required to publish an annual Statement of Affairs. The statement in this report describes the structure and functions of the NSW Police Force, how these functions affect the public and how the public can participate in the Department's policy development. Additionally, the Statement of Affairs requires the inclusion of the Department's categories of documents and how these can be accessed or amended by members of the public.

Structure and Functions

The purpose of the NSW Police Force is to work with the community to reduce crime and violence and improve public safety. The bulk of policing work is done by operational police at Local Area Commands (LACs). Depending on their location and demographics, LACs can often have different demands placed upon them. Police work closely with their local community to tailor policing response to the needs of that community.

Specialist commands complement local police. They provide further services that, at times, are required by LACs to provide the community with the best possible policing response. Strike forces are formed when resources are needed to be concentrated on a particular crime or crime types such as drugs, murder or other organised crime.

The structure of the NSW Police Force detailed elsewhere in the NSW Police Force Annual Report (see our latest Annual Report).

Effect of functions on members of the public

The functions of the NSW Police Force have an effect on members of the public through the provision of services. These services include providing police services to New South Wales and exercises other functions conferred on it by the Police Act 1990 or any other Act. NSW Police Force will do any ethical thing necessary for or incidental to the exercise of this function including:

• Preventing, detecting and investigating crime,
• Monitoring and promoting road safety
• Maintaining social order, including coordination of counter-terrorist preparedness,
• Performing and coordinating emergency and rescue operations, subject to the State Emergency and Rescue Management Act 1989 and to the Essential Services Act 1988.

Public participation in policy development

Members of the public are able to participate in the policy development process within the NSW Police Force. The NSW Police Force can be contacted by mail to the Commissioner of Police, Locked Bag 5102 PARRAMATTA NSW 2124.

Description of documents held by the NSW Police Force

The NSW Police Force holds the following categories of documents:

• Human Resources
• Information Technology
• Operational Policing
• Finance and Administration
• Professional Conduct
• NSWP Handbook
• Memorandums of Understanding (LAW)
• Corporate
• Property

Members of the public may contact the Coordinator of the FOI Unit to clarify which documents may be available under FOI legislation. It is to be noted that material may be deleted from policy documents if it would have a substantial adverse effect on the effective performance by an agency of the agency’s functions.

Accessing and amending NSW Police Force documents

Documents may be accessed by contacting the FOI Unit.

Applications for access to documents under the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 1989 should be in writing, accompanied by the $30 application fee and directed to:

The Coordinator
Freedom of Information Unit
NSW Police Force
Locked Bag 5102
PARRAMATTA NSW 2124
Ph: 02 9689 7122

Applications to amend documents relating to a person's own personal affairs may also be made to the Coordinator of the FOI Unit.

Further information can be obtained from the NSW Police Force internet website.