The Home Affairs Committee holds the first session of its new
inquiry into police conduct and complaints on Wednesday 27
January when it takes evidence from the Police Action Lawyers
Group, INQUEST, the Police Federation of England and Wales and
Police Superintendents’ Association.
In this opening session of the inquiry, the Committee will
explore with PALG and INQUEST the impact of the process on
individuals and families who have experienced it, including in
cases following deaths in police custody. It will also hear from
representatives of police officers and staff who have been
subject to complaints and investigations, about the impact this
has had on them.
Questioning is expected to focus on the role and remit of the
Independent Office for Police Conduct in relation to the police
complaints system. It will look at how the IOPC and police forces
in England and Wales are working to resolve complaints and the
extent to which progress has been made to reform the system
including the response to criticisms of timeliness in
investigations. It will also investigate the impact of recent
reforms to the system more broadly and ask if more is needed to
secure public confidence in the police complaints and
disciplinary systems.
Witness schedule
From 9.30am
Panel 1
- Deborah Coles, Executive Director, INQUEST
- Michael Oswald, Police Action Lawyers Group
Panel 2
- Phill Matthews, Chair, Conduct and Performance Sub-Committee,
Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)
- Victor Marshall OBE, Professional Standards Coordinator,
Police Superintendents’ Association (PSA)
