"Our budget position is challenging ... we were only able to fully investigate approximately 2 per cent [of complaints]. However, we continue to refine our processes and concentrate on addressing

systemic issues." In total, the LECC conducted 49 "full" investigations last financial year, up from 28 the previous year. As of June, the commission had 103 "ongoing investigations" - among them allegations of money laundering by a senior NSW Police officer with financial associations to a criminal entity, multiple "invasive" late-night bail checks and strip searches conducted in breach of the law. Last year it took an average of 24 days from the time LECC received a complaint to decide whether it warranted an investigation. Allegations of a sexual assault during a strip search at a Sydney metropolitan police station sparked an investigation codenamed Operation Karuka. No evidence of a sexual assault was uncovered, but "numerous breaches ... were indicated including the use of force to effect a strip search". In another investigation, the LECC examined the strip-searching of two witnesses to a "traumatic" incident. Following the incident, both people were taken to the nearest police station and strip-searched, despite only being witnesses to the event. The watchdog's investigation found the strip-search "did not appear to be justifiable" - however, a NSW Police investigation is ongoing.

In 2018, the commission commenced six investigations into strip searches, examining if they were conducted on reasonable grounds, whether force was used appropriately and whether privacy was provided to the person. A police officer who conducted 19 strip-searches at last year's Splendour in the Grass told an LECC inquiry two weeks ago it was possible none of those searches were legal, and that only one revealed an item of interest: an antidepressant tablet. Mr Adams told the inquiry the police practice of requiring people to squat during searches - in order to inspect their genitals - had no basis in the police force handbook and may be unlawful. In June, the Herald revealed an internal report from the force's Lessons Learned Unit (LLU) which conceded officers were exceeding their powers, in part because there was no clear definition of a strip-search in state legislation, leaving it up to individual officers to interpret the law. The LECC is tasked with investigating allegations of serious misconduct by NSW Police and NSW Crime Commission officers. It only deals with complaints considered serious misconduct and had about 100 tip offs from police or likely former officers last year.

This year's state budget increased the "efficiency dividend" for the LECC, meaning it will have to find $6 million in savings over the next four years from its $22.3 million annual budget. Mr Adams, a former NSW Supreme Court judge, said the higher rate of required savings was "sad" and would hamper the commission's ability to do its job. "This will continue to impact the number of serious misconduct complaints we are able to

investigate, research projects that we undertake and NSW Police force misconduct investigations that we oversee," Mr Adams wrote. A NSW Police spokeswoman acknowledged the recent reports published by LECC and said the force would consider all recommendations. She said a formal response would be provided to the LECC "in due course". A spokesman for Special Minister of State Don Harwin said the vast majority of complaints fielded by LECC did not warrant investigation by the commission and were "appropriately investigated by the police".