- Conference
- Police Service Group Conference 2003
- Date
- 6 March 2003
- Decision
- Carried
Conference notes the establishment of the IPCC by the Police Reform Act 2002. Conference supports the creation of an independent and credible agency to investigate complaints against police personnel.
Conference welcomes the necessary involvement of UNISON in the Home Office Working Parties setting up the structure of the IPCC and the way in which it will work. However, Conference is aware that the creation of the IPCC poses a number of important questions for UNISON and its members. In particular:
(i)what, if any will be the relationship between IPCC investigations and
police staff disciplinary proceedings?
(ii)what arrangements will need to be put in place to ensure effective
representation of members who are called before the IPCC?
(iii)what, if any, sanctions could the IPCC impose on UNISON members
whose case is found against them?
Conference instructs the Service Group Executive to:
(a)continue to build strong, sustainable links with the IPCC
(b)negotiate the best possible agreements with regard to any change in
legislation that allows support staff to come under the jurisdiction of the IPCC and ensure that support staff are fully protected within future IPCC procedures
(c)provide advice, guidance, support and training to branches in respect of
IPCC procedures and discipline at work
(d)resist, absolutely, the potential importation of police officer disciplinary
procedures to deal with substantiated complaints against police staff
(e)link any change in legislation/jurisdiction to national conditions of service
and to ensure that this is dealt with by the PSSC