The agency responsible for investigating corruption in Australian law enforcement bodies has been told it has no way of knowing how efficiently it investigates corrupt conduct, and to pick up its act, in a new report.

In the first audit of the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity by the Australian National Audit Office, the watchdog was told it needed to improve how it manages cases, and how it allocates resources. The auditor general couldn't say whether the commission was running efficiently, because there was nothing in place to measure it at the agency.

The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity is responsible for investigating corruption at bodies like the AFP. Credit:AFP Media

"As ACLEI has not measured, benchmarked or reported on its efficiency in detecting, investigating and preventing corrupt conduct the ANAO has not been able to conclude whether ACLEI has been operating efficiently," the report said.

The commission, formed in 2006, is responsible for investigating staff at law enforcement agencies. It had a budget of $10.8 million in 2016-17 and just under 50 staff.