In our last episode, Adams and North spoke about the circumstances about how the Wood Royal Commission was established and that it was stated that the allegation of systemic corruption was a conspiracy theory.

However, one of the major consequences of the Wood Royal Commission was the finding that there was entrenched corruption in the NSW Police Service including:

o where police ran illegal drug, prostitution and weapons trades; and
o police received bribes and secret commission payments.

The Wood Royal Commission also found that instances of systemic non-financial corruption in the NSW Police Service which Justice Wood described as ‘process corruption’. It is still relevant today in modern Australia, 30 years on, especially in the context of ASIC.

The most simply understanding ‘Process Corruption’ is where a law enforcement official manipulates an official process that either incriminates an innocent party or allows a guilty party to escape justice.

This form of corruption is committed in circumstances where a private benefit is not sought. This form of corruption is committed for other reasons.