In Australia, the community seeks to hold police accountable through complaint processes, coronial and parliamentary inquests, Royal Commissions, court proceedings and in the media.

The most accessible avenues for holding police accountable are complaint mechanisms and civil litigation. Complaints against police come from a wide sector of the community and can range from concerns over the use of foul language to more serious cases of assault perpetrated by officers against individuals. An effective complaints process is integral to police accountability.