A former head of the corruption watchdog has blamed "bureaucratic inertia" for the delay in criminal charges being brought after inquiries, saying police and prosecutors refuse to take an active role in preparing cases for trial.

Jerrold Cripps, QC, who was head of the Independent Commission Against Corruption during the infamous inquiry into planning decisions at Wollongong City Council, said the watchdog was forced to re-do its work after an inquiry had finished in order to prepare matters for trial.

Former ICAC head Jerrold Cripps blamed "beaucratic inertia" for the delay in charges being brought after inquiries. Credit:Greg Ellis

The Director of Public Prosecutions took the view that it could not investigate anything at all, he said, and it "won't even take a statement from some person which is incontrovertible but is necessary for the prosecution, which I think is wrong". The police, meanwhile, said "it's too much for them, it's too hard" to prepare cases for trial.

ICAC cannot prosecute targets of its inquiries but it can make recommendations that the DPP consider laying criminal charges.