Independent Police Complaints Commission

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is a non-departmental public body in England and Wales responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales. It can also elect to manage or supervise the police investigation into a particular complaint and will independently investigate the most serious cases itself.Since April 2006 it has taken on responsibility for similar, serious complaints against HM Revenue and Customs and the Serious Organised Crime Agency in England and Wales. In April 2008, it additionally took on responsibility for serious complaints against UK Border Agency staff.

Powers

The statutory powers and responsibilities of the commission were set out by the Police Reform Act 2002, and it came into existence on 1 April 2004, replacing the Police Complaints Authority. Unlike its predecessors, the Independent Police Complaints Commission is completely independent of the Home Office.

Since April 1 2004 the IPCC has used its powers to begin 171 independent and 533 managed investigations (as at 29 August 2007) into the most serious complaints against the police. It has set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. The Commission also handles appeals by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.

The IPCC claims it is committed to getting closer to the communities it serves. Its Commissioners and staff are based in IPCC regional offices in Cardiff, Coalville, London and Sale plus a sub office in Wakefield.

The IPCC has the task of increasing public confidence in the complaint systems and aims to make investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.

Unlike similar organisations in other countries, the IPCC has its own independent investigators, giving it the choice of supervising police investigations into serious complaints or independently investigating them itself. Though in the vast majority of cases it simple passes on complaints to the Professional Standards Division of the force the complaint is about.

IPCC Investigators are not police officers. However, IPCC Investigators designated to undertake an investigation have all the powers and privileges of a police constable in relation to that investigation throughout England and Wales (Police Reform Act, 2002- Schedule 3, Paragraph 19). However, despite being established in April 2004, the first known use of these arrest powers was in 2007 when a former police officer was arrested in relation to allegations of sexual assault. cite web | date = 2007-08-07 | title = IPCC arrests and charges former Northumbria Police officer following investigation | url = http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr070807_northumbria.htm| format = HTML | publisher = IPCC Website (press release)| accessdate = 2007-10-15]

Commissioners

The eighteen Commissioners are appointed by the Home Secretary for a five year period and cannot be former staff of the bodies they have responsibility for investigating. The Commission is the governing board of the IPCC, holding collective responsibility for governance of the Commission including oversight of the Executive. As public office holders, Commissioners oversee and take ultimate responsibility for IPCC investigations, casework and the promotion of public confidence in the complaints system (known as Guardianship).

Commissioners in making decisions on individual cases act under the delegated authority of the Commission. All appointments, which are full-time and non-executive are for a five year term, were through open competition. The commission meets bi-monthly and dates can be found on the IPCC website.

Example of an IPCC report

On 11 July 2007, the Independent Police Complaints Commissions issued [http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/pr110707_worc.htm the following press release] .

:The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has concluded its managed investigation into a fatal road traffic collision in Briar Mill, Droitwich in Worcestershire on 23 June 2006.

:The investigation examined the police involvement leading up to the collision and officers' actions in the context of the force policy and procedures applicable in such circumstances. It also looked at the lines of communication between the CMPG and the West Mercia Force Control Room at the time of the pursuit.

:John Crawley, IPCC Commissioner said, "our investigation demonstrates quite clearly that the police officers involved acted in a completely appropriate manner. Their actions in no way caused the collision involving the stolen Mercedes and officers acted in full accordance with their professional duties."

Northern Ireland and Scotland

The IPCC self-regulation scheme covers England and Wales; oversight of the police complaints system in Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. In Scotland it is the responsibility of the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS) for non-criminal complaints, or the Procurator Fiscal, part of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service where there are allegations of criminality.

Resignation of lawyers

In February 2008 over a hundred lawyers who specialise in handling police complaints resigned from its advisory body, citing various criticisms of the IPCC including a pattern of favouritism towards the police, indifference and rudeness towards complainants and complaints being rejected in spite of apparently powerful evidence in their support. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2008/feb/25/police.law1 Crisis at police watchdog as lawyers resign] ] The IPCC responded to these criticisms by response in the Guardian [http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/feb/27/police]

References

External links

* [http://www.ipcc.gov.uk Independent Police Complaints Commission website]
* [http://www.pcc-scotland.org Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS) website]
* [http://www.wikicrimeline.co.uk/index.php?title=Police_Complaints_Commission WikiCrimeLine Police Complaints Commission] Commentary and useful links