Fair and Effective Determination of Police Complaints

Narrative

Fair and effective complaints procedures are essential to maintaining public trust and confidence in the police, protecting against cultures of impunity and establishing accountability. Research undertaken at the University of Manchester (UoM) has formulated a regulatory approach to police complaints determination that is fair, effective and human rights compliant. The research has two strands. Firstly, considering complaints law and practice across Europe, via engagement with the Council of Europe (COE) Commissioner for Human Rights (CHR). Secondly, an assessment of internal misconduct investigations, focusing specifically on Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Work undertaken with the CHR, notably the generation of an Opinion ‘Concerning Independent and Effective Determination of Complaints against the Police’ has been picked up and utilised internationally by a range of governmental and non-governmental bodies, and is being used within a raft of training engagements. The report ‘Disproportionality in Police Professional Standards’ has formed the basis for both ongoing internal discussion, and wider considerations concerning the issue of disproportionality within the professions.

Impact date	2014
Category of impact	Political impacts, Societal impacts
Impact level	Benefit