IPCC inquiry standards criticised

Feb' 2008: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7263010.stm
Lawyers representing people who have brought cases against the police have withdrawn from an advisory group to the police complaints panel.
The Police Action Lawyers' Group says it is concerned about allegations over investigations at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
It says inquiries are being run by people without sufficient seniority.
However, the IPCC said the complaints were not representative of the majority of the work it carried out.
The IPCC deals with complaints against police in England and Wales and considers appeals made by members of the public over their investigations.
Among the allegations by the group of lawyers, is that investigations supervised by the IPCC are not being overseen by people with enough experience and seniority.
It said the investigators found it difficult to challenge the conclusions produced by officers from a force that is the subject of an official complaint - a type of investigation that makes up the vast majority of IPCC work.
There are also concerns about the IPCC's own investigations, although it is accepted there are examples of high standards.
In addition, there is criticism of the leadership of the IPCC for failing to address these issues.
In response, the IPCC said many of the complaints referred to were "legacy" cases inherited from its predecessor, the Police Complaints Authority.
End criticism
Nick Hardwick, IPCC chair, said: "We do not accept the criticism of our caseworkers and investigators. They are trained and experienced and their work is overseen by commissioners who cannot by law have worked for the police.
"But of course the IPCC does not always get it right and we constantly try to improve."
He said that the IPCC remained ready to speak to the PALG as a stakeholder, but that it would defend its independence and impartiality.
The IPCC was set up to end criticism of the investigation of complaints about police behaviour.
It is also responsible for the way serious complaints against members of the Serious Organised Crime Agency, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and the Border & Immigration Agency are dealt with.