IPCC proposes Police Ombudsman for England and Wales

The IPCC has proposed changes to its structure “that will effectively support the work of an expanding organisation.”

Under the IPCC’s proposal the organisation would be headed by a Police Ombudsman for England and Wales, with overall responsibility for its work and decision-making.

Regional ombudsmen would have delegated responsibilities in the English regions and Wales.

The proposals were published as part of the IPCC’s response to its recent triennial review. The review, published in March 2015, endorsed the need for the organisation’s role and supported its current change programme; recognising that changes to its governance are necessary to support a much larger organisation.

Mark Smith, Chairman of Essex Police Federation, said: “I think the IPCC should actually start doing the work they’re supposed to be doing first before they want to take on anything else.”

He added: “Police forces are shrinking, the IPCC is growing but they’re still not coping, still not being as quick as they should be on investigating issues. I do find it somewhat hypocritical for the IPCC to investigate officers for failing to investigate in a timely manner.

“Forces are struggling to cope with the demands being placed on them because of cuts to officer numbers, I’m not sure what excuse the IPCC can have.

“I’m not saying that there’s more work out there, what I’m saying is that they’re not investigating as quickly as they should do, they’re not listening to forces when we’re trying to assist and speed matters up.”

The IPCC says it “has grown significantly over the last two years, in order to be able to investigate all serious and sensitive cases”.

It is expected to begin more than five times the 109 investigations it started in 2012/13, and its staffing has more than doubled over the same period.

A new office has opened in Birmingham, the existing Wakefield office has expanded and an office in Croydon will open over the summer.

The IPCC’s says its plans run alongside government proposals to reform the police complaints system as a whole and to provide the IPCC with Ombudsman-like powers to determine complaints and to act on its own initiative.

IPCC Chair Dame Anne Owers said: “Our proposal has been developed after a great deal of thought and discussion and we believe it will enable us to meet the challenge of delivering many more timely and high quality investigations.

“The current structure has many strengths, not least the robust and visible independence of our Commissioners and the experience and knowledge base of our staff, built up over ten years.  However, the Commission structure itself creates blurred lines of accountability and decision-making. In a smaller organisation we have been able to manage these aspects, but we do not believe it is sustainable in a larger organisation.

“We have submitted our proposals to the Home Secretary and Ministers will decide whether and how to pursue them further. We welcome any views on our proposals, so that we can be sure these changes are the best way forward.”