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The Independent Police Conduct Authority (IPCA) and police have concluded investigations into a complaint made about the Police Commissioner Richard Chambers.
In December, 2025, the IPCA received a complaint from a former partner of Chambers.
The complainant and he had been in a long-term romantic relationship in the 1990s.
The complaint related primarily to allegations of stalking and digital surveillance.
It also included an allegation of sexual assault dating back to 1999.
The IPCA decided to carry out an independent investigation.
“We also referred the complaint to police for investigation with oversight from the Authority,” the IPCA says.
“The police investigation was assigned to highly experienced detectives from the Police National Integrity Unit (NIU).
“Our investigation into the alleged recent conduct included making several enquiries and reviewing records and other evidence gathered by the NIU on our behalf.
“This included examination of exhibits which the complainant believed provided evidence substantiating her concerns.
“We found no evidence to support any of her concerns about stalking and digital surveillance and found evidence that contradicted many of her claims
“Whilst we accept that she genuinely believed what she told us, we conclude that there was no evidential foundation for any of these allegations.”
The IPCA advised the woman of the outcome of that part of her complaint in July.
The investigation of the complainant’s allegation of historic sexual assault was led by the NIU with active oversight by the IPCA.
“When the complainant agreed to be interviewed by police, she formalised a criminal complaint.
“After the first police interview, the complainant made further allegations of historic sexual assaults and she was re-interviewed.
“Throughout the course of the police investigation, the Authority had regular meetings with the police investigation team and direct access to the electronic investigation file, allowing us to review evidence, analysis and other material as the investigation progressed.
“The Authority monitored police’s interview of the Commissioner and independently interviewed him without police present.
“The Commissioner co-operated fully throughout. At the conclusion of the police investigation, the Authority completed a final review of all the material and the police investigation report.”
The IPCA says criminal investigation reports must conclude whether or not there’s sufficient evidence to prosecute.
It considers police have completed a thorough and robust investigation and that all reasonable lines of enquiry have been followed up.
“We agree with the conclusion reached in the report that the evidential test for prosecution is not met.
“Whilst the Authority considers that the police investigation impartially investigated the historic sexual offences, the outcome of the investigation into the allegations of stalking and digital surveillance raised unavoidable reliability issues that police had to consider as part of their assessment.
“It is the Authority’s view that, when all the evidence is considered in totality, police reached the only outcome reasonably available.
“Following the Authority’s review, police sent their investigation report and documents from the police file to a Crown Solicitor for a further independent review.
“The Crown Solicitor agreed with the conclusion that the evidential test for prosecution was not met.”
