Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland

Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland
Abbreviation PCCS
Formation 1 April 2007
Legal status executive non-departmental public body
Purpose Complaints about the Scottish police
Location
  • Hamilton Business Park, Caird Park, Hamilton, South Lanarkshire
Region served
Scotland
Commissioner
 John McNeill
Parent organization
 Scottish Government
Website PCCS

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 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 Commissioner, John McNeill, assumed office on 17 August 2009, when he replaced Jim Martin for a three-year term.[1] He was previously a prison governor in both Scotland and Northern Ireland.[2]

The Commissioner only handled non-criminal complaints; complaints involving allegations of criminality continue 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."[3]

In March 2010, McNeill urged Scottish police forces to adopt common guidelines about recording complaints.[4]

On 1 April 2013 it was replaced by the Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "News: Police Complaints Commissioner". Scottish Government. 1 July 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  2. ↑ "News: Appointment of new Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland". Police Complaints Commissioner Scotland. 5 August 2009. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
  3. ↑ "Complaints about Scottish police forces increase". BBC News. 8 December 2009. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  4. ↑ "Call for Scottish police complaints guidance". BBC News. 22 March 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  5. ↑ "About us". Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
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