Scipione pushes for terror alert change

NSW's police chief has called for a change to Australia's terrorism alert process and highlighted a need for more alert levels.

A national counter-terrorism review has recommended the terrorism warning system be scrapped and replaced with a simpler, clearer system.

The national terrorism public alert was raised to high last September, while the terrorism alert for police across the country wasn't raised to high until January.

NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione said having a higher alert level for one particular section of the community, such as police, could be confusing.

"It's a personal view, but I think perhaps we need to have more flexibility," he said.

"We need to simplify what we do here because communities need to understand."

Mr Scipione said NSW police had been pushing for more stages in the terror alert process.

"And if that is one of the things that is looked at then we would certainly be encouraging the committee to get on with it," he said.

There are currently four alert levels on the national terrorism public alert system, ranging from low to extreme.