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Police funds 'should be diverted to improve under-resourced IPCC' Police funds 'should be diverted to improve under-resourced IPCC'
(about 1 hour later)
Funds should be diverted from the police to the under-resourced Independent Police Complaints Commission to help restore public confidence in the system, the home affairs select committee has recommended.Funds should be diverted from the police to the under-resourced Independent Police Complaints Commission to help restore public confidence in the system, the home affairs select committee has recommended.
In a critical analysis of the failures of the IPCC to get to the truth, the report said the police watchdog was "woefully underequipped and hamstrung" and had "neither the powers nor resources" required for the job it faced. In a critical analysis of the failures of the IPCC to get to the truth, the report said the police watchdog was "woefully under-equipped and hamstrung". It had "neither the powers nor resources" required for the job it faced, the report added.
The verdict on the IPCC comes as it faces its greatest challenge yet in the inquiry into the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.The verdict on the IPCC comes as it faces its greatest challenge yet in the inquiry into the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster.
Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, said the public did not fully trust the IPCC. "Without faith in the commission, the damaged public opinion of the police cannot be restored. Unfortunately, too often the work of the commission seems to exacerbate public mistrust, rather than mend it."Keith Vaz, chair of the home affairs select committee, said the public did not fully trust the IPCC. "Without faith in the commission, the damaged public opinion of the police cannot be restored. Unfortunately, too often the work of the commission seems to exacerbate public mistrust, rather than mend it."
The report said the IPCC should take on more independent investigations and be given Home Office money to set up a rapid response team to arrive at a scene within the crucial "golden hour" after the event because of the failures in its investigative capability in the past.The report said the IPCC should take on more independent investigations and be given Home Office money to set up a rapid response team to arrive at a scene within the crucial "golden hour" after the event because of the failures in its investigative capability in the past.
Vaz said such an independent investigation was needed into "plebgate" – the altercation between the then chief whip Andrew Mitchell and two Downing Street police officers. The Met police's investigation into the incident is being supervised by the IPCC, but Vaz said such investigations were "oversight-lite" and no better than a placebo.Vaz said such an independent investigation was needed into "plebgate" – the altercation between the then chief whip Andrew Mitchell and two Downing Street police officers. The Met police's investigation into the incident is being supervised by the IPCC, but Vaz said such investigations were "oversight-lite" and no better than a placebo.
"It was clearly hasty of the commissioner to tell the media that he was 100% behind his officers and to say to Right Hon David Davis MP that the investigation had been closed when it had not been investigated with any rigour."It was clearly hasty of the commissioner to tell the media that he was 100% behind his officers and to say to Right Hon David Davis MP that the investigation had been closed when it had not been investigated with any rigour.
"The IPCC should investigate this case independently and the government should additional provide funds, if necessary.""The IPCC should investigate this case independently and the government should additional provide funds, if necessary."
The report revealed that Scotland Yard had spent £85,500 so far investigating the event, which lasted less than 60 seconds.The report revealed that Scotland Yard had spent £85,500 so far investigating the event, which lasted less than 60 seconds.
Dame Anne Owers, chair of IPCC, acknowledged that the watchdog needed more resources to be able to work effectively. "In short, we cannot do the job the public entrusts us to do," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.Dame Anne Owers, chair of IPCC, acknowledged that the watchdog needed more resources to be able to work effectively. "In short, we cannot do the job the public entrusts us to do," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
Asked about whether her organisation should have done more to investigate the Mitchell case, Owers said 30 Metropolitan police officers were themselves looking into it – equivalent to a third of the IPCC's entire investigative capacity. She said: "That's a measure of the sorts of choices we have to make every day about what we do and how we do it."Asked about whether her organisation should have done more to investigate the Mitchell case, Owers said 30 Metropolitan police officers were themselves looking into it – equivalent to a third of the IPCC's entire investigative capacity. She said: "That's a measure of the sorts of choices we have to make every day about what we do and how we do it."
Challenged on the fact that the IPCC investigated only around 100 of the 8,000-plus allegations of police corruption made each year, Owers said this again came down to numbers: "It's a very small number, yes, but if we were to devote more resources to this it would mean less to other cases."Challenged on the fact that the IPCC investigated only around 100 of the 8,000-plus allegations of police corruption made each year, Owers said this again came down to numbers: "It's a very small number, yes, but if we were to devote more resources to this it would mean less to other cases."
The report called on the IPCC to reduce the number of police officers who are investigators from 33% to 20%, to end the perception that the police were investigating themselves.The report called on the IPCC to reduce the number of police officers who are investigators from 33% to 20%, to end the perception that the police were investigating themselves.
But it acknowledged that cuts to the police watchdog had hampered its capability. The report called on the Home Office to set up a budget for a serious case response team to boost its investigative capability – which had been found wanting in cases such as the death of Sean Rigg. It suggested this could be paid for by a transfer of funds from individual police forces' professional standards departments to the IPCC to cover investigations.But it acknowledged that cuts to the police watchdog had hampered its capability. The report called on the Home Office to set up a budget for a serious case response team to boost its investigative capability – which had been found wanting in cases such as the death of Sean Rigg. It suggested this could be paid for by a transfer of funds from individual police forces' professional standards departments to the IPCC to cover investigations.
The report also criticised the failure of the IPCC in communicating the work it is doing, highlighting the failures in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, which sparked the 2011 riots.The report also criticised the failure of the IPCC in communicating the work it is doing, highlighting the failures in the aftermath of the fatal shooting of Mark Duggan, which sparked the 2011 riots.
"The adequacy of communications between the IPCC and the public can have serious implications," the report said. "Some of the violence that raged across London in the summer riots of 2011 may have been avoided if anger had not been intensified by inaccurate statements made by the IPCC.""The adequacy of communications between the IPCC and the public can have serious implications," the report said. "Some of the violence that raged across London in the summer riots of 2011 may have been avoided if anger had not been intensified by inaccurate statements made by the IPCC."
The report called for the IPCC's powers to be extended to cover private firms such as G4S, and for it to be given statutory powers to require a police force to respond to its recommendations.The report called for the IPCC's powers to be extended to cover private firms such as G4S, and for it to be given statutory powers to require a police force to respond to its recommendations.
The report also recommended a change of name for the police watchdog to the Independent Policing Standards Authority to better reflect its broader remit and functions.The report also recommended a change of name for the police watchdog to the Independent Policing Standards Authority to better reflect its broader remit and functions.
Families of the Liverpool supporters who were killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have called for an independent commissioner with "a proven track record" to lead the IPCC investigation into alleged police malpractice at and after Hillsborough, following the highly critical report.Families of the Liverpool supporters who were killed in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have called for an independent commissioner with "a proven track record" to lead the IPCC investigation into alleged police malpractice at and after Hillsborough, following the highly critical report.
Charles Falconer QC, who is representing the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "This report confirms many of the doubts the families have had with the IPCC as a result of their experience with the organisation so far."Charles Falconer QC, who is representing the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "This report confirms many of the doubts the families have had with the IPCC as a result of their experience with the organisation so far."