50 signatures reached
To: THERESA MAY - HOME SECRETARY
STOP THE POLICE INVESTIGATING THEMSELVES!
All complaints made against the police should be investigated by an INDEPENDENT BODY. As the IPCC only now investigate very series matters, local police investigate any complaints against themselves and routinely find themselves not guilty!
Why is this important?
As we have seen in recent exposures regarding racism, just 1% of these complaints were upheld, can we really believe that 99% of those complaints were untrue? This is also reflected in many other complaints. Very few appeals, when made, are also upheld. it is common sense not to allow public bodies to investigate themselves. Let us have truly independent complaint investigations for everyone who feels they have a complaint regarding the police, that is only fair for those people who have suffered unfair treatment at the hands of the Police. Even the IPCC itself has been critical of local police forces investigating themselves stating:'Police forces are still failing to respond to far too many of the public’s complaints despite improvements made to the complaints system in 2004 and additional guidance issued by us to forces back in May last year'. They also criticised the time it takes for complaint to be dealt with, which is on average 6 months!
