IPCC proposes Police Ombudsman for England and Wales
THE Independent Police Complaints Commission is proposing “fundamental organisational change” – including the introduction of a Police Ombudsman for England and Wales.
The IPCC has proposed changes to its structure “that will effectively support the work of an expanding organisation”.
The organisation would be headed by a Police Ombudsman for England and Wales – a Crown appointee – with overall responsibility for its work and decision-making.
Regional ombudsmen would have delegated responsibilities in the English regions and Wales.
The proposals are published as part of the IPCC’s response to its recent triennial review. The review, published in March 2015, endorsed the need for the organisation’s role and supported its current change programme; recognising that changes to its governance are necessary to support a much larger organisation.
The IPCC says it “has grown significantly over the last two years, in order to be able to investigate all serious and sensitive cases”.
It is expected to begin more than five times the 109 investigations it started in 2012/13, and its staffing has more than doubled over the same period.
A new office has opened in Birmingham, the existing Wakefield office has expanded and an office in Croydon will open over the summer.
Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “We are suffering cuts and yet the police watchdog seems to be expanding and taking up our resources. They will be busier because more complaints will be coming and people in policing will not be able to deal with them.”
The IPCC’s says its proposals run alongside government proposals to reform the police complaints system as a whole and to provide the IPCC with Ombudsman-like powers to determine complaints and act on its own initiative.
IPCC Chair Dame Anne Owers said: “Our proposal has been developed after a great deal of thought and discussion and we believe it will enable us to meet the challenge of delivering many more timely and high quality investigations.
“The current structure has many strengths, not least the robust and visible independence of our Commissioners and the experience and knowledge base of our staff, built up over ten years. However, the Commission structure itself creates blurred lines of accountability and decision-making. In a smaller organisation we have been able to manage these aspects, but we do not believe it is sustainable in a larger organisation.
“We have submitted our proposals to the Home Secretary and Ministers will decide whether and how to pursue them further. We welcome any views on our proposals, so that we can be sure these changes are the best way forward.”
See the full report here: www.ipcc.gov.uk/news/ipcc-proposes-fundamental-organisational-change