CCC

What is Corruption?

The CCM Act divides misconduct into serious and minor misconduct.  These are defined differently for WA Police and for other public officers. 

For WA Police all types of misconduct described in section 4 of the CCM Act and additional conduct described as "reviewable police action", are called "police misconduct".  The CCM Act includes police misconduct in its definition of serious misconduct.

For other public officers serious misconduct must involve corrupt and/or criminal conduct and occurs  when a public officer:

  • acts corruptly or corruptly fails to act in the course of their duties; or
  • corruptly takes advantage of their position for the benefit or detriment of any person; or
  • commits an offence, whilst acting or purporting to act in his or her official capacity, which carries a penalty of 2 or more years imprisonment.

Corrupt conduct tends to show a deliberate intent or an improper purpose and motivation and may involve conduct such as the:

  • deliberate failure to perform the functions of office properly;
  • exercise of a power or duty for an improper purpose; or
  • dishonesty.

Some examples include blackmail, bribery, fraud or stealing, perverting the course of justice and deliberately releasing confidential information. 

For more information please refer to the publication entitled Notification of Misconduct in Western Australia and Fact Sheet No. 2 entitled Definition of Serious Misconduct.