NT Police released a statement on Thursday saying they had issued a 54-year-old woman with a notice to appear in court on August 27 on a charge of abuse of office.

The charge had been laid after an investigation by the Special References Unit, police said.

She has previously been asked about hiring practices in her office.

Ms Gwynne recently produced a report that criticised a number of NT government departments that allowed two foster carers in central Australia to have Indigenous children in their care despite numerous allegations of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.

Ms Gwynne is well known in the Northern Territory and as a former police officer involved in the arrest and conviction of Peter Falconio's murderer Bradley John Murdoch.

Australian Associated Press