What does the IPCC do?
The Police Reform Act sets out the statutory powers and responsibilities of the IPCC, chief police officers and police authorities for the complaints system. The Act:
- guarantees the independence of the IPCC Commission
- outlines the IPCC’s role as guardian of the police complaints system
- gives the IPCC a duty to raise public confidence in the police complaints system
The IPCC also investigates the most serious complaints and allegations of misconduct against the police in England and Wales. The IPCC can deal with three different types of case:
- complaints defined by the Police Reform Act as about the conduct of an officer or member of police staff
- conduct matters (such as corruption) even when no complaint has been made
- deaths and serious injury following police contact even when no complaint has been made or misconduct alleged
Complaints about ‘direction and control’ or operational matters are excluded from the IPCC’s remit.
The IPCC’s statutory guidance
The Police Reform Act 2002 also gives the IPCC the power to issue statutory guidance to the police service and police authorities on how complaints in general should be handled. Through statutory guidance the IPCC is able to set standards for the handling of complaints, even where it never becomes directly involved.
