THE Home Secretary has announced proposals to reform the governance structure of the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).<\/p>\n
The proposals include replacing the existing Commission model with a single head of the organisation \u2013 such as Northern Ireland\u2019s Police Ombudsman \u2013 who would be a Crown appointment to provide a direct line of accountability to the public.<\/p>\n
The proposals also include establishing a unitary Board, \u201cwith a majority of non-executives to provide robust external challenge to the organisation on behalf of complainants and the public\u201d.<\/p>\n
The\u00a0\u00a0proposals\u00a0are out to consultation until the end of January.<\/p>\n
The Home Office is also seeking views on changing the name of the IPCC \u201cas it would no longer be organised as a Commission.\u201d<\/p>\n
This would be the first major change to the IPCC\u2019s governance structure since it was established in 2004.<\/p>\n
According to the Home Office: “Both the Government and the IPCC agree on the need for significant governance reform to modernise the organisation, improve accountability and ensure the IPCC can grow and its remit expand.”<\/p>\n
The proposals emerged from an independent review, by Sheila Drew Smith, of the governance changes proposed by the IPCC.<\/p>\n
Home Secretary Theresa May said: “The IPCC plays a critical role in securing and maintaining public confidence. It provides independent oversight of the police complaints system and investigates the most serious and sensitive matters involving the police.<\/p>\n
“I am committed to ensuring that the IPCC has the resources and powers it needs to perform these vital functions.<\/p>\n
“These reforms are designed to deliver a more resilient police complaints body \u2013 providing one single, clear line of decision-making from top to bottom and giving the public real accountability. It will help ensure that complaints made against the police are responded to in a way that builds trust and public confidence, and allows lessons to be learned.”<\/p>\n
Sheila Drew Smith said: “The IPCC has a vital role to play in securing public confidence in the police complaints system. As the IPCC expands its role, and takes on more cases, I found universal agreement that its governance arrangements need to be strengthened.<\/p>\n
“Having a single head of the organisation, supported by a strong Board with a majority of non-executive directors, should help streamline decision-making, help the IPCC become more efficient and deliver the objective scrutiny which the public and the police have a right to expect.”<\/p>\n