Police Complaints Authority
Encyclopedia
The Police Complaints Authority (PCA), was an independent body in the United Kingdom
with the power to investigate public complaints against the Police in England and Wales as well as related matters of public concern. It was formed in 1985, replacing the Police Complaints Board
and was then itself replaced by the Independent Police Complaints Commission
(IPCC) in April 2004.
The IPCC was itself pre-dated by the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. This agency was set up in 2000 to investigate complaints against the Royal Ulster Constabulary
and its successor the Police Service of Northern Ireland
(PSNI). It had its own teams of civilian investigators and was completely independent of the Police. In addition to the PSNI it also covered Belfast & Larne Harbour Police, the Airport Police and the MoD Police (not the same as the Royal Military Police
). Unlike the IPCC the Ombudsman's office could investigate an incident without waiting for a referral or complaint.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
with the power to investigate public complaints against the Police in England and Wales as well as related matters of public concern. It was formed in 1985, replacing the Police Complaints Board
Police Complaints Board
The Police Complaints Board was the British government organisation tasked with overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales from 1 June 1977 until it was replaced by the Police Complaints Authority on 29 April 1985.Like its replacement, the Police...
and was then itself replaced by the Independent Police Complaints Commission
Independent Police Complaints Commission
The Independent Police Complaints Commission is a non-departmental public body in England and Wales responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales.-Role:...
(IPCC) in April 2004.
The IPCC was itself pre-dated by the Office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. This agency was set up in 2000 to investigate complaints against the Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
and its successor the Police Service of Northern Ireland
Police Service of Northern Ireland
The Police Service of Northern Ireland is the police force that serves Northern Ireland. It is the successor to the Royal Ulster Constabulary which, in turn, was the successor to the Royal Irish Constabulary in Northern Ireland....
(PSNI). It had its own teams of civilian investigators and was completely independent of the Police. In addition to the PSNI it also covered Belfast & Larne Harbour Police, the Airport Police and the MoD Police (not the same as the Royal Military Police
Royal Military Police
The Royal Military Police is the corps of the British Army responsible for the policing of service personnel, and for providing a military police presence both in the UK, and whilst service personnel are deployed overseas on operations and exercises.Members of the RMP are generally known as...
). Unlike the IPCC the Ombudsman's office could investigate an incident without waiting for a referral or complaint.