6 Conclusion
45. The
evidence we have received suggests that while the IPCC has had
some tangible and high-profile successes overall, it remains over-worked,
particularly in its appeal function. We are inclined to believe
that this is the source of the poor service that the IPCC is providing
to those who rely on the Commission. To solve this problem, the
police should be placing greater onus on resolving complaints
in an open, transparent and satisfactory matter. This in turn
would reduce the workload of the IPCC. We see the IPCC playing
a key role in driving this cultural change, rather than acting
as a somewhat passive "backstop", which seems currently
to be the case. We would like to see a detailed plan of how the
IPCC, working with bodies such as HMIC and NPIA, will improve
police forces' complaints services and hence reduce the number
of appeals against police decisions, in order to bring the IPCC's
workload down to more manageable levels, improve the service provided
to those using the Commission and increase confidence in the complaints
system.
46. It is clear
to us that the IPCC requires reform of some kind. If the IPCC
continues to fail to put complainants at the heart of the process
we do not consider it can achieve its statutory duty of increasing
public confidence in the police complaints system in England and
Wales. The witnesses who gave evidence to us provided examples
of potentially beneficial reforms, both large and small, and to
both the culture and structure of the Commission. We have addressed
some of these suggestions above.[75]
We regret that a lack of Parliamentary time prevents us examining
these proposals in greater depth. We hope that by producing this
Report, and presenting the accompanying evidence, to the House,
our successors will be able to examine these issues in the detail
they deserve.
75 Paras 38-44 Back
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