email to a friend | user comments
Published: 08 April 2004

Police Complaints

A new system for the handling of complaints against the police in England and Wales came into force on 1 April 2004.

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is the new public body that replaces the Police Complaints Authority.

The IPCC has been established to investigate public complaints into police misconduct and in doing so aims to:

  • raise standards,
  • cut delays,
  • increase public confidence and
  • transform the way police forces handle complaints from the public.

The IPCC will have new powers to investigate the most serious complaints using its own teams of independent investigators, to direct and control investigations by the police, and, unlike the PCA, to 'call in' any matter even where no complaint has been made.

It will also set, monitor and enforce standards of how police forces handle and investigate other complaints.

The public will also have new rights.
  • For the first time witnesses to incidents will be able to make a complaint.

  • Complainants will also have the right to be kept fully informed of the progress of their complaint and significant rights of appeal to the IPCC. These include appeals against refusal to record complaints, as well as against the conclusions of any police investigation and any action the police propose following an investigation.

    The IPCC's powers to give police directions to hold disciplinary hearings and, in certain circumstances, to present evidence at disciplinary hearings, significantly strengthen the new system.

    Most complaints will continue to be resolved locally by the police, but the more serious cases will be independently investigated or managed by the IPCC.

    In its first year the IPCC estimates that it will have the capacity to investigate:
    • 30 cases independently,
    • manage 100 cases and
    • supervise around 650.

    In 2002/3 PCA supervised 447 complaints from the public and 133 investigations referred by the police, because of the serious nature of the incident (e.g. deaths in custody).

    The IPCC is run by 18 independent Commissioners who, by law, cannot have worked for the police. With a budget of £24 million for its first year the Commission will have 72 independent investigators, regional directors and its own investigation and casework teams, who will be based in four regional offices (London, Manchester, Leicester and Cardiff).

    Nick Hardwick, Chair, IPCC said:
    "We aim to increase confidence in the police complaints system by transforming the process. The new system will cut delays, make the process more open and bring justice for both the complainant and the police officer or member of staff.

    One of our very first tasks will be to take over all of the current cases from the Police Complaints Authority. Many of these cases are very challenging and some are very tragic.

    However I am confident that our expert staff and our independent Commissioners can meet these important challenges.

    I am delighted the IPCC will be able to play a critical role in increasing confidence in and the effectiveness of the police service as a whole."

    Under the Police Reform Act 2002, the IPCC has the powers to deal with and complete existing cases that were being handled by the PCA. These include a number of high profile cases such as:
    • Roger Sylvester,
    • Rachel Whitear,
    • Harry Stanley,
    • the Clydach murders,
    • Martin Dackers and
    • Ali Dizaei.

    Under its new and wider powers the IPCC will deal with complaints and incidents of a similar complexity and seriousness.


    Further information
    Independent Police Complaints Commission website: www.ipcc.gov.uk

Submit your comments

To find a business you can trust, click on the related categories below: