A Study of the Police Complaints System - Softcover

The police complaints system has undergone significant changes in recent years, notably the creation in 1985 of the independent Police Complaints Authority to supervise investigations of the most serious complaints. This study provides an examination and evaluation of the new system. It explores the nature and circumstances of complaints; the views and experiences of complainants, police investigators and officers complained against; the new option of "informal resolution"; the reasons behind the high withdrawal rates; the role of the PCA; and the scope and effectiveness of supervision, including the reactions of those who have experienced it. The researchers were granted full access to complaints files, observed PCA members at work, and interviewed samples of interested parties in three police force areas. They also conducted a nationwide survey of people who had made serious complaints. The two-year study, funded by the Home Office raises challenging questions about the aims of the system and its effectiveness in controlling police misconduct, satisfying complainants and winning the confidence of the public.