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Published: 15 June 2005

Launch of IPCC Website

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has launched its rebuilt & expanded web site.

The site includes many new features that are intended to make it easier to use by complainants, the police service and general users.

IPCC chair Nick Hardwick said:
"Complainants will find the site much more useful as it now includes a simple -to- use form that they can fill in with the details of their complaint and send to us.

For the first time there is a dedicated section for police officers and civilian staff that explains how the complaints system affects them. The site should help them if they have a complaint made against them.

We have also introduced an information centre on the site that will explain the themes behind our work. There are sections on policing and mental health and our commitment to diversity.

But of course the section advertising job vacancies with the Commission is sure to continue being a very popular part of the web site."

Complaints forms, like any complaint made to the IPCC about the police, are, with complainant's consent, forwarded to the police force concerned to be officially recorded and dealt with.

Complainants have a right of appeal to the IPCC against non-recording by the police service.

The IPCC is the body with overall responsibility for the police complaints system in England and Wales:

  • It has the task of increasing public confidence in the system and aims to make complaints investigations more open, timely, proportionate and fair.

  • The 17 IPCC Commissioners guarantee the independence of the IPCC and by law can never have served as police officers.

  • Since April 1 2005 the IPCC has used its powers to begin nine independent and 38 managed investigations into the most serious complaints against the police.

  • It has also set new standards for police forces to improve the way the public's complaints are handled. Since 1 April 2004 it has upheld 153 appeals (out of 477 valid appeals) by the public about the way their complaint was dealt with by the local force.



Further information:
The site can be found at http://www.ipcc.gov.uk/

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