Independent Police Complaints Commission
From SR
History and Roles
The Independent Police Complaints Commission's (IPCC) job is to make sure that complaints against the police are dealt with effectively. They set standards for the way the police handle complaints and, when something has gone wrong, they help the police learn lessons and improve the way they work.
The IPCC have a legal duty to oversee the whole of the police complaints system, created by the Police Reform Act 2002, their aim is to transform the way in which complaints against the police are handled.
The IPCC began work on 1 April 2004 with a wide range of new, stronger powers to radically change the way complaints against the police are handled in England and Wales. The IPCC can choose to manage or supervise the police investigation into a case and independently investigate the most serious cases.
The new complaints system presents a huge opportunity for the police service; but also a huge challenge if that opportunity is to be realised. The prize is greater confidence in the complaints system, leading to greater trust in the police service on which more effective policing depends.
Reporting Hierarchy
The Independent Police Complaints Commission became operational on 1 April 2004. It is a Non-departmental Public Body (NDPB), funded by the Home Office, but by law entirely independent of the police, interest groups and political parties and whose decisions on cases are free from government involvement.
The Police Reform Act sets out the statutory powers and responsibilities of the IPCC, Chief Police Officers and Police Authorities for the new complaints system. This guarantees the independence of the Commission, outlines its role as guardian of the police complaints system as a whole, and gives the IPCC a duty to raise public confidence.
Documents
The IPCC's 'Making the new police complaints system work better' sets out their vision for the new complaints system and the minimum standards expected of forces when handling complaints.
