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Protocols and agreements with other agencies

In order to work effectively with other agencies we are developing protocols so that both organisations understand clearly how we can co-operate and assist each other. They also set out what you can expect.

The IPCC has jurisdiction over all of the 43 local police forces (Home Office forces) in England and Wales and SOCA (in relation to England and Wales) under the Police Reform Act (PRA) 2002.
The IPCC can extend its jurisdiction to certain specialist constabularies by entering into an agreement with them. The IPCC has entered into agreements in respect of:
- British Transport Police (police officers and staff)
- Ministry of Defence Police (police officers only)
- Civil Nuclear Constabulary (police officers only)
- Port of Tilbury Police (police officers and staff)
- Port of Tees and Hartlepool Police (police officers and staff)
- Port of Liverpool Police (police officers)
- Civil Nuclear Constabulary (staff only)
- Port of Bristol Police (police officers and staff)
Reference should be made to the relevant agreement to ascertain the extent of the IPCC’s jurisdiction
Memorandum of Understanding between IPCC and HM Coroners Society (pdf 44kb). This is designed to clarify the working relationship between the IPCC and HM Coroners and promote mutual understanding of the roles of each.
The IPCC agreed on 27 November 2007 a protocol for liaison with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in investigations (pdf 35kb). While IPCC do not investigate health and safety offences as a matter of course, there are circumstances where an incident within its jurisdiction has health and safety management implications, and could therefore be a relevant matter for HSE. The protocol is to help HSE and IPCC investigators understand each other's remit, identify areas of shared interest and provide a mechanism for liaison. Below is a link to the Work Related Deaths Protocol referred to in the protocol.
Protocol between the IPCC and the Parliamentary Ombudsman (pdf 287k) in relation to the Victims Code
Interim protocol for the inspection of police complaints procedures (pdf 242k) by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC)
Protocol between the IPCC and the Crown Prosecution Service (pdf 158k)
Protocol Agreement between the IPCC and the Police Service (This has been replaced by the Operational model)
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the IPCC, and HMIC and HMIP
The scrutiny requirements of the UN Optional Protocol against Torture require the UK to ensure regular and independent inspection of all places of detention. To this aim, Her Majesty’s Inspectorates of Constabulary and Prisons (HMIC and HMIP) have established a programme of joint inspections of police custody facilities in all forces and London Borough Commands.
HMIC, HMIP and the IPCC share a commitment to decency and fairness in police custody facilities and have a mutual interest in judgments on the conditions for and treatment of detainees in those establishments. This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) sets out the working arrangements between the IPCC, and HMIC and HMIP in relation to HMIC/HMIP joint inspections of police custody facilities only.

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