NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas deserves an apology: bugging report

An inquiry into a police bugging scandal has called on the NSW government to apologise to one of the state's top-ranking police officers, Deputy Commissioner Nick Kaldas, and found 46 people were put under surveillance without proper evidence.

The NSW Upper House inquiry into the long-running scandal has also demanded proof that Mr Kaldas and Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn - both rivals to be the next police commissioner - can work together.

Mr Kaldas was one of more than 100 police officers whose phones were bugged in the wide-ranging Operation Mascot, sought to uncover corruption in the force and was led by Ms Burn.

He was never charged over any wrongdoing and the inquiry found significant issues in the way NSW Police obtained the warrants needed to place suspects under surveillance.

"On the evidence before this inquiry there is a compelling case to make a specific apology to Mr Kaldas, which we now do, and we call on the NSW Government to do the same," one of they key findings read. 

The inquiry also found journalist Steve Barrett, one of two civilians whose phone was monitored, was also owed an apology.

Ms Burn has consistently denied deliberately giving false information to obtain warrants and told the committee she had reasonable cause to suspect Mr Kaldas.

NSW Police said they would not comment on the report today.

Read the full report here.