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Union supports Tory plan to bolster IPCC Union supports Tory plan to bolster IPCC
(7 months later)
The home secretary's announcement about additional resources and powers for the Independent Police Complaints Commission is broadly welcomed by our increasingly beleaguered staff (Report, 13 February). It was positive, focusing on finding solutions rather than playing the blame game. What Theresa May has set out will help strengthen the ability of our union's members in the IPCC to provide proper independent oversight of police complaints and to investigate more serious and sensitive allegations. Our members are dedicated, but are often criticised for what is actually a problem of resources and lack of powers.The home secretary's announcement about additional resources and powers for the Independent Police Complaints Commission is broadly welcomed by our increasingly beleaguered staff (Report, 13 February). It was positive, focusing on finding solutions rather than playing the blame game. What Theresa May has set out will help strengthen the ability of our union's members in the IPCC to provide proper independent oversight of police complaints and to investigate more serious and sensitive allegations. Our members are dedicated, but are often criticised for what is actually a problem of resources and lack of powers.
In fact, the recent home affairs select committee report about the IPCC made the point that the budget for the Metropolitan police's professional standards department dwarfs the entire budget for the IPCC, which covers all police forces in England and Wales. We know the process for transferring those resources from the police service has to be done quickly if public confidence in the complaints system is to be increased.In fact, the recent home affairs select committee report about the IPCC made the point that the budget for the Metropolitan police's professional standards department dwarfs the entire budget for the IPCC, which covers all police forces in England and Wales. We know the process for transferring those resources from the police service has to be done quickly if public confidence in the complaints system is to be increased.
The Labour MP Yvette Cooper has again suggested replacing the IPCC. This will not resolve the deficiencies of a police complaints system that is underresourced and lacking in powers. What is required is a mature discussion about concrete measures that will help achieve what all parties acknowledge is required to increase public confidence. Our union will engage with our employer in a positive way in the discussions to shape how and what a properly resourced IPCC should be doing. We also call on the Labour party to actively engage in securing public confidence in the police complaints system and work with us to improve the current system, which they largely set up when in government.
Steve Martin
IPCC national branch secretary, PCS Union		The Labour MP Yvette Cooper has again suggested replacing the IPCC. This will not resolve the deficiencies of a police complaints system that is underresourced and lacking in powers. What is required is a mature discussion about concrete measures that will help achieve what all parties acknowledge is required to increase public confidence. Our union will engage with our employer in a positive way in the discussions to shape how and what a properly resourced IPCC should be doing. We also call on the Labour party to actively engage in securing public confidence in the police complaints system and work with us to improve the current system, which they largely set up when in government.
Steve Martin
IPCC national branch secretary, PCS Union
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