Four complaints against police investigated in 2019 and 2020

The PCC agreed to supervise all four of the investigations.

In its first report since 2019 the PCC also said that there were seven appeals in 2019 and four last year, none of which were upheld. It does not give any information about the nature of the complaints.

‘The commission is of the view that to provide even brief summaries could potentially risk identifying the complainant, or the officer concerned,’ it said.

One of the appeal decisions was the subject of a call for a judicial review, but this was later withdrawn.

But the PCC remains concerned about its limitations in its statutory role in supervising investigations, said chairman Robert Jordan, in his first report since taking over from retired chairman Stewart Chisholm.

‘The commission is disappointed to report that there has been little progress made on securing the legislative changes which we have been anticipating for a number of years now,’ he said, while acknowledging that Brexit and an upcoming policing review had led to delays. The report itself stated that the PCC believes ‘that there is scope for enhancing the commission’s responsibility to better support the original objectives of the police complaints process – that is to ensure public confidence in the complaints process and the force in general’.

It said it believed it could do a better job of supporting those who were dissatisfied with the service they receive without risking the integrity of the process.

Home Affairs committee president Rob Prow thanked everyone involved in the commission for their work.

‘The varying expertise which they bring to the table is always crucial to the work they do in supervising investigations,’ he said.

A review of the way in which police complaints were handled was carried out in the UK in 2018 and led to a number of findings being published.

The local complaints legislation is also being reviewed.

‘When stakeholders have considered the findings of the UK review, they will report back to the committee,’ said Deputy Prow.

‘It will then be able to make recommendations to the States about what changes are necessary.’

Although the work was not prioritised under the Government Work Plan, he has committed to progressing it under ‘business as usual’.