The Ombudsman's final decision
Summary: We will not investigate this complaint about the Monitoring Officer’s handling of a standards complaint. This is because we have no power to investigate complaints connected with the investigation or prevention of crime.
The complaint
Mr X complains the Monitoring Officer did not consider his complaint about the Mayor and Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime’s oversight of the police. He says this caused him distress and a sense of injustice and powerlessness.
The Ombudsman’s role and powers
The Local Government Act 1974 sets out our powers but also imposes restrictions on what we can investigate.
We cannot investigate a complaint if it is about action taken by or on behalf of any local policing body in connection with the investigation or prevention of crime. (Local Government Act 1974, Schedule 5, Section 26, paragraph 2 as amended)
How I considered this complaint
I considered information provided by Mr X and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime.
I considered the Ombudsman’s Assessment Code.
My assessment
Mr X’s complaint to us is about the Monitoring Officer’s refusal to pursue his complaint that members of the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime did not meet proper standards of conduct. That, in turn, relates to Mr X’s allegations that those members have not properly looked into allegations of criminal wrongdoing and police misconduct. We cannot investigate these matters because they are ultimately ‘in connection with’ the investigation or prevention of crime. So the restriction in paragraph 3 above applies.
Investigator's decision on behalf of the Ombudsman