The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is established under the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cwlth) (ACC Act). Our agency was formed when the former Australian Crime Commission and CrimTrac merged in 2016, and is still known as the Australian Crime Commission for legal purposes.

Our agency's role and functions are underpinned by supporting legislation in each state and territory.

On 1 July 2016 the Australian Crime Commission Amendment (National Policing Information) Act 2016 (Cwlth) amended the ACC Act to implement the carrying over of CrimTrac’s functions to the ACC, including the provision of systems and services relating to national policing information and nationally coordinated criminal history checks. In doing so Australia’s national criminal intelligence and information capabilities were brought under one banner, allowing police, justice agencies and policy makers at all levels of government to adopt a more effective, efficient and evidence-based response to crime.

As a Commonwealth statutory authority, we also have responsibilities under the Public Service Act 1999 (Cwlth) and the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cwlth).

Coercive powers

The ACIC’s coercive powers, similar to a Royal Commission, are used in special operations and special investigations to obtain information where the Board of the ACIC determines that it is in the public interest to do so.

Our coercive powers authorise our examiners to compel people to give evidence for the purposes of special ACIC operations or investigations.

Our examiners can also issue notices requiring people to produce documents or things relevant to a special operation or investigation. This power is broad, and may apply to a person, a corporation or a Commonwealth government agency.

The Governor-General appoints our examiners.

Examinations are held in private. Witnesses may claim protection so the answers, documents or things they provide are not admissible in evidence against them in a criminal proceeding to impose a penalty, except in limited circumstances.

If you have received an ACIC summons or notice and require further information, please phone the contact officer listed on the summons or notice.