NCJ Number
84715
Journal
Bramshill Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1981-82) Pages: 5-12
Date Published
1981
Length
8 pages
Annotation
Current procedures for dealing with complaints against police in the United Kingdom are explained and critiqued.
Abstract
Prior to 1976, police agencies themselves had the sole responsibility for reviewing complaints against the police, but public pressure to have a complaint review process independent of the police produced the creation of the Police Complaints Board in 1976. This body reviews the decisions taken by chief officers regarding whether disciplinary procedures should be instituted. The Board has the power to form tribunals to hear cases in certain circumstances. Some still complain that the investigation of complaints is too much in the hands of the police, although there is no evidence that the police have done anything but conduct thorough investigations into the complaints coming to them. The present system is costly, however, because of the time supervisory officers must take to conduct complaint investigations and write reports to the Complaints Board. The Board's recommendations for improvement in the complaints procedure have been disappointing. In its triennial report, the Board suggested that a special investigating body should be formed to deal with serious cases; however, there is no evidence that assault cases have presented special problems of bias. A second recommendation, however, does constitute a first step toward significant improvement in the complaints procedure. It suggests that legislation should be amended to specify certain minor offenses for which reference should not normally be made to the Director of Public Prosecutions, such that they would be treated in the same way as alleged disciplinary offenses. Thirteen references are listed.