Victoria Police's Critical Incident Response Team has repeatedly failed to properly report its use of force and officers are increasingly resorting to it, a special report has found.
The Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission has highlighted several incidents involving the specialist unit, including at Melbourne's Inflation nightclub shooting in 2017 and arrests at a Fitzroy bookshop in 2019 and at Epping in 2020.
The police watchdog identified instances of CIRT officers not accurately or comprehensively reporting their use of force, breaches of Victoria's charter of human rights, inadequate risk assessment and planning processes, and poor communication.
"Inadequacies in reporting the use of force reduce the accuracy of Victoria Police's data on the use of force," said the report, tabled in state parliament on Tuesday.
"This in turn can hinder IBAC's ability to oversee such matters effectively."
The use of force by CIRT increased to 39 per cent of incidents in 2021, up from 23.1 per cent in 2019 and 24.6 per cent in 2020.
The most common type of force used over the three-year span was grabbing, holding, pushing or swarming, with pistol and rifle interventions accounting for less than 10 per cent in 2021.
Public protests were the equal second-most common incident category where CIRT officers used force in 2021.
"This is probably due to the number of protests held in Melbourne during this time in response to COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates," IBAC said.
The unit's officers didn't advise people of their rights or inform them of the reason for their arrest and detention, and did not carry water to deliver treatment for those affected by capsicum spray.
"Instead, officers relied on access to mains water or their own drinking water," the watchdog said.
The specialist unit supports frontline officers in high-risk incidents such as violent confrontations, sieges and searches for violent offenders.
Of its 185 staff, only 13 were women as of September last year.
Two of the unit's 36 supervisor roles are currently held by women and there are no female inspectors or senior sergeants.
"CIRT leaders and Victoria Police's Professional Standards Command have acknowledged that the small proportion of female CIRT officers continues to be a problem," the report said.
IBAC made six recommendations, including for Victoria Police to report within six months on how its new use-of-force database will improve accuracy and compliance once operational.
A one-year deadline has also been set for the diversification of the unit's leadership and overall composition.
In a statement, Victoria Police said it would take time to consider the special report and noted it has accepted recommendations from previous probes mentioned within it.
"We value greater diversity within CIRT and are continually developing strategies to encourage female applicants," a force spokesman said.
"Victoria Police has commenced work to procure a new use-of-force database which will improve accountability across Victoria Police and last year provided mandatory training for all frontline police about how and when use of force should be reported."
