MPs' report makes recommendations for the IPCC

Less than 1% of all complaints against the police are dealt with by the Independent Police Complaints Commission, according to a committee of MPs. Although the IPCC was set up to oversee the handling of complaints made against the police, the Home Affairs Committee found that in 2008-09 less than 1% were directly investigated by the watchdog. It also found that only 10% of "serious" cases referred to the body were subsequently managed by the organisation's staff. In another finding from witnesses to the committee, the MPs' report criticised the practice of former police officers taking an investigatory role in cases involving possible former colleagues. "Ex-police officers should not end up investigating possible ex-colleagues in their former force. Public confidence in the impartiality of the IPCC is bound to be damaged by these practices," the commitee said, adding that it was "shocked that this situation has been allowed to develop." The committee found that while there was "a disconnect between what the public complain about" and the remit of the IPCC, the gap should be filled by the police's Professional Standards Department (PSD) - which handles the majority of complaints against the police. "Ultimately, most complainants, whose concerns arise from poor service, would just like an apology. The IPCC should act to ensure this is forthcoming more often by impressing upon police PSDs the need to investigate all complaints in a clear, open manner and from the position of remedying poor public service," the committee said in its 11th report on the IPCC. "We are surprised that the IPCC has apparently not taken a greater interest in this area and call on them to do so. While we do not believe that legislation should be introduced to remove the so-called "opt-out clause" which does not require individual officers to proffer an apology for their behaviour, the IPCC should also play a stronger role in ensuring this good practice is adopted by forces." In 2008 the watchdog reportedly faced a crisis of confidence after more than 100 lawyers specialising in handling police complaints resigned from its advisory body over delays and poor decision making- a charge which the IPCC fiercely defended . Although the committee of MPs could not establish specifics into why IPCC investigations took a long time to conclude, it said that any investigation "lasting up to 269 working days is unsatisfactory to all concerned and does nothing to increase anybody's confidence." The MPs' report said there was a case for "a more open process involving, for example, the sharing of proposed timetables of work and completion dates, a greater explanation of how the investigation is developing and where possible, the sharing of initial evidence such as CCTV recordings, would increase the confidence of those using the system and remove the doubt and uncertainty which has been reported to us far too often." Calling for "reform of some kind," the committee said there was no reason not to disclose information during the investigation to interested parties. Recommendations made by the committee include a clearer benchmarking process that included statistical targets, such as complainant satisfaction, that would lead to better understanding of the IPCC's performance.