The Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC) is the executive non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government responsible for investigating complaints by members of the public against Police Scotland; and the Scottish operations of the National Crime Agency, British Transport Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Ministry of Defence Police, and HM Revenue and Customs.
 | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 April 2013 |
| Type | Executive non-departmental public body |
| Jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Headquarters | Hamilton House, Hamilton Business Park, Caird Park, Hamilton, ML3 0QA
Tel: 01698 542900 55°46′59″N 4°02′56″E / 55.783°N 4.049°E |
| Employees | approx. 100 |
| Minister responsible | |
| Agency executives |
|
| Parent agency | Scottish Government |
| Website | pirc |
| Map | |
 Scotland in the UK and Europe | |
History
editOn 1 April 2013, the Police and Fire Reform (Scotland) Act 2012 brought together Scotland's eight territorial police services, the Scottish Crime and Drug Enforcement Agency and the Scottish Police Services Authority into the new national police service, Police Scotland. At the same time the remit of the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland expanded to include investigations into the most serious incidents involving the police. To reflect this change, the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland was renamed the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner.[1]
In June 2014 Kate Frame was appointed as the new Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, taking up the post in August.[2]
In June 2019 Michelle Macleod was appointed by ministers as the new Police Investigations and Review Commissioner, taking up the post in the August of that year.[3]
Criticism
editThe PIRC have previously been criticised for using 'oppressive and dehumanising tactics' as part of its investigations by the body which represents police officers in Scotland, who stated that its members were fast losing confidence in the 'effectiveness and genuine independence' of the organisation.[4] This was raised at a meeting of the Justice Committee of the Scottish Parliament.
In May 2018, prominent lawyer Aamer Anwar called on the Commissioner Kate Frame to resign after claiming that organisation had failed to adhere to its values of integrity, impartiality and respect in relation to the investigation into the death of Sheku Bayoh.[5]
Remit and jurisdiction
editThe PIRC provides independent scrutiny of how police bodies respond to complaints from members of the public.[6]
References
edit- ^ "About us". Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. Archived from the original on 27 June 2013. Retrieved 6 September 2014.
- ^ "Commissioner for scrutiny of police named". The Herald. 12 June 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2017.
- ^ "Who We Are | About Us".
- ^ "Scotland's police union says police watchdog 'treats officers like suspects'". Daily Record. January 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "Inquiry into death of Sheku Bayoh dubbed a 'national disgrace' as family launch case against police". Daily Telegraph. May 2018. Retrieved 19 August 2018.
- ^ "A guide for the public on the role of the Police Investigations & Review Commissioner". Police Investigations and Review Commissioner. August 2014. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
External links
edit
  | This article related to law in Scotland is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
| | This article related to government in Scotland is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This law enforcement–related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |