Watching the Watchmen

Just digested the 2008 Independent Police Conduct Authority annual report which is about par for the responsivity of this blog. The IPCA deserves a pat on the back for it's achievement in reducing the back log of complaints. The number of complaints that have been with the IPCA for more than 12 months has been cut by an impressive 87%. Quality is quite another thing though and the only real measure of an institution like the IPCA is the truth of the independence asserted in its new title. The IPCA (by budgetary necessity) still relies on serving Police officers to investigate complaints. Often these investigating officers come from the same station as the officers complained about. Laudably the IPCA is prioritising it's own staff for the investigation of serious matters such as deaths in custody and the like but if the Authority is to earn its title more money is going to have to be spent putting some distance between the Police and their watchers.