The Board of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (the Board) authorises, by determination, a special ACIC operation or special ACIC investigation to occur. The Board may only exercise this power when it considers that it is in the public interest. The ACIC’s coercive powers may only be exercised for the purposes of a special ACIC operation or special ACIC investigation. 

Coercive powers as well as a full range of traditional investigative methods, including telephone interception, surveillance devices and controlled operations, can be applied to special ACIC investigations and operations.