Prosecution Operations
Police Prosecutors prosecute about 95% of criminal cases on behalf of the NSW Police Force and various other government agencies in court of summary jurisdiction, enjoying a success rate of 90% or above. They provide advocacy services for victims of domestic and family violence and are available 24/7 to provide operational legal advice to all levels of the NSW Police Force.
Coroners Court
Police prosecutors continue a fine tradition of assisting the State Coroner in the conduct of inquests. They support major policing operations and serious crime investigations with strategic legal advice.
Operational Legal Advice Unit
Police Prosecutions Command has the responsibility for providing specialist support to the field through the provision of timely advice in respect to varying legal issues, and research directed ast addressing inconsistencies and deficiencies in the law.
Covert Applications Unit
Provide advice on applications for surveillance devices and telecommunications interception warrants, assist in preparation of affidavits in support of applications. Provide advice on legal and other issues arising from the use of listening devices and telecommunications intercepts. The Covert Application Section also provides support for Controlled Operations and Extraditions.
Executive Legal Support Unit
Provide legal advice at the corporate level. This includes advice to the NSW Police Force Executive on Cabinet Minutes, Bills and external correspondence and legal advice to commands on corporate policies, procedures and SOPs.
Prosecution Support Unit
The Prosecution Support section comprises of The Prosecutors Training Unit, Brief Managers and Court Processes Unit and Professional Development Unit.
Prosecutor Training, Police Prosecutions Command, currently provides trainee police prosecutors with the training, education and professional development they need to perform the duties of a Police Prosecutor. Successful completion of the Prosecutor Education Program has for many years, been an essential prerequisite for appointment to the position of, Police Prosecutor.
Brief Managers and Court Process unit are responsible for special legal projects by Police Prosecutions relevant to Service wide legal education, IT legal enhancements and improved legal processes, as well as carriage of projects aimed at the strategic development of Police Prosecutions itself.
The Professional Development Network is designed to ensure police prosecutors maintain a high level of superior knowledge. The Professional Development Network consists of the Professional Development Coordinator (PDC) and a number of Professional Development Officers (PDO).
Accelerated Prosecutor Recruitment Program
Police Prosecutions Command recruit police officers and law students (through our Accelerated Prosecutor Recruitment Program - APRP) with the aptitude to become police prosecutors. Prior to 2008, law graduates were not able to become police prosecutors without first spending at least three years performing other police duties. Under the APRP, the NSW Police Force is now recruiting law graduates and fast tracking them into prosecuting.
Current trainee classes are made up of experienced operational police officer and APRP students who have completed their period as a probationary constable. Both groups draw strengths from each other.