Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland

The Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS) was the executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made by members of the public against the police force of Scotland. It operated between 1 April 2007 and 31 March 2013.

Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland
AbbreviationPCCS
PredecessorHer Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland
SuccessorPolice Investigations and Review Commissioner
Formation1 April 2007 (2007-04-01)
Dissolved31 March 2013 (2013-03-31)
Legal statusexecutive non-departmental public body
PurposeComplaints about the Scottish police
Location
  • Hamilton Business Park, Caird Park, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Region served
Scotland
Commissioner
John McNeill
Parent organization
Scottish Government

History

It was created under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. The PCCS took over its role from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland on 1 April 2007. The first commissioner was Jim Martin.[1]

John McNeill succeeded Martin as Commissioner and assumed office on 17 August 2009, for a three-year term.[2] He was previously a prison governor in both Scotland and Northern Ireland.[3]

The Commissioner only handled non-criminal complaints; complaints involving allegations of criminality needed to be referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

In December 2009, McNeill responded to a 13% rise in complaints against the police in 2008/09 by stating: "I would argue that any increase in complaints arises in part from the public having more confidence in the police and expecting higher standards from them."[4]

In March 2010, McNeill urged Scottish police forces to adopt common guidelines about recording complaints.[5] Later that year McNeill reported a further rise in complaints received for the 2010/11 period, also noting that police bodies were highlighting in their final responses to complainers a right of redress to the commissioner.[6]

On 1 April 2013 it was replaced by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.[7]

See also

References
  1. "Police complaint body opens doors". BBC News. 2 April 2007. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  2. "News: Police Complaints Commissioner" (Press release). Scottish Government. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  3. "News: Appointment of new Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland". Police Complaints Commissioner Scotland. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  4. "Complaints about Scottish police forces increase". BBC News. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  5. "Call for Scottish police complaints guidance". BBC News. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  6. Rose, Gareth (4 September 2011). "Complaints to police watchdog rise by 70%". The Scotsman. Retrieved 9 May 2018.
  7. "About us". Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. Retrieved 6 September 2014.


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