R16-18

All parties with responsibility for complaints should make clear and actively publicise where their responsibilities – especially in relation to actual investigations and their outcomes – begin and end. The implementation of the proposed changes to the police complaints and disciplinary systems should be monitored locally by PCCs and nationally by the Home Office, IPCC and HMIC. Responsibility for handling police complaints through local resolution should not sit with those with appellate responsibility in relation to the same complaints. The Home Office should consider whether or not complaints about PCCs should continue to be handled by the IPCC.