More oversight for PIC: report

Greater transparency and independent oversight will improve the effectiveness of NSW Police Integrity Commission investigations into deaths involving officers, a new report says.

Ombudsman oversight into the investigation of "critical incidents" - an incident involving the death or serious injury of a police officer or civilian arising from a police operation - should be considered, says the report's author, former attorney-general Robert McClelland.

The report was released on Wednesday.

He further advocates setting up a committee involving the police commissioner, the state coroner, the police integrity commissioner, the ombudsman and the general manager of WorkCover to "promote regular dialogue and enhance co-operation between agencies".

Mr McClelland was asked by NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell to undertake the review of critical-incident investigations in September, months after the death of Roberto Laudisio-Curti.

The Brazilian student died in March 2013 after police tasered him 14 times, used capsicum spray and a baton, and knelt on him.

In investigations into the incident, the NSW ombudsman and the coroner "arrived at fundamentally different conclusions regarding the conduct of the senior homicide squad investigators who investigated the critical incident", Mr McClelland said.

In future investigations, prominence should be given to the coroner's inquiries and where contradictory instructions exist the coroner's should be preferenced, the former attorney-general recommends.

He also believes critical-incident guidelines should be made public and regional bosses should justify to senior command why action was or wasn't taken during investigations.

Publishing critical-incident reports "as soon as reasonably practicable" and developing a "training and relationship" program for the police, ombudsman and the Police Integrity Commission should also be considered, Mr McClelland said.

Mr O'Farrell said the government would discuss the report with relevant agencies before responding.

The government's response will be before the middle of the year, he said.