WIREDGOV

On 28th March 2014, Deborah Glass steps down as a Commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), to take up the post of Ombudsman for the state of Victoria, Australia. This follows ten years at the IPCC, five of them as Deputy Chair, after three years at the IPCC’s predecessor body, the Police Complaints Authority.

She has used that experience to provide a personal view of the strengths and weaknesses of the present police complaints system in England and Wales, with suggestions for its reform. The review provides both a retrospective look at the police complaints system and a vision for the future of police complaints. It analyses the current system which many – including the IPCC – have previously said is over-complicated and bureaucratic.

The review examines the history of police complaints, the current regime and draws comparisons with systems across the world – in parts of Europe, North America and Australasia.

The key findings are that

• an effective system needs to be simple, accessible and fundamentally fair;
• therefore there is need for fundamental change – a new legislative framework, providing a system that people can understand and use.

Deborah Glass then sets out principles for a new framework and a draft structure of what this might look like. The report can be found here.

Dame Anne Owers, Chair of the IPCC said,

"On behalf of everyone at the IPCC I would like to offer my congratulations to Deborah on her new role as the Ombudsman for the state of Victoria, Australia. During her 10 years at the IPCC, and in her time at the Police Complaints Authority, Deborah has played a key role in the development of the complaints system in England and Wales as well as overseeing many large and complex investigations into the police. Her drive and determination to get to the truth and the recommendations she has made have undoubtedly improved policing and the complaints system as a whole. Her tenacity, knowledge and personality will be missed and the state of Victoria has the benefit of having an Ombudsman of integrity, who will act without fear or favour to hold people and institutions to account.”

"Deborah’s unrivalled knowledge and experience of the police complaints system in England and Wales is summarised and reflected in her review of the system, published today. She has provided an important and stimulating contribution to the ongoing debate on how to increase public confidence in the complaints system, by making it more effective and accessible. It provides us, and others, with a great deal of food for thought at a crucial time for the complaints system and the IPCC".