The Ombudsman is appointed by the Minister (in consultation with the Minister of Justice and the Parliamentary Committee for Internal Affairs and the Environment) for a period of five years. By law "The Ombudsman acknowledges no authority but the authority of the law," i.e. he has complete autonomy of judgment.

Every police or prison officer who feels that he or she has been mistreated by the system or by a commanding officer (except in matters of material welfare) has the right to submit a complaint to the Ombudsman. The function of the Ombudsman is not to replace the existing chain of command but to furnish an additional channel of authority, which comes into effect in statutorily defined circumstances. In his investigation of a complaint, the Ombudsman has the right to subpoena any officer of document.

The Ombudsman presents an annual report on his work to the Minister of Public Security and to the Parliamentary Committee for Internal Affairs and the Environment.