Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland
Encyclopedia
The Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland (PCCS) is a non-departmental public body
in Scotland
responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made by members of the public against police
forces in Scotland.
It was created under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. The PCCS took over its role from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland on 1 April 2007.
The Commissioner, John McNeill, has been in post since 17 August 2009, when he replaced Jim Martin for a three-year term. He was previously a Commissioner of the Scottish Human Rights Commission
.
The Commissioner only handles non-criminal complaints; complaints involving allegations of criminality continue to be referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
Service.
In December 2009, McNeill responded to a 13% rise in complaints against the police in 2008/09 by stating: "I would argue that any increase in complaints arises in part from the public having more confidence in the police and expecting higher standards from them."
In March 2010, McNeill urged Scottish police forces to adopt common guidelines about recording complaints.
Non-departmental public body
In the United Kingdom, a non-departmental public body —often referred to as a quango—is a classification applied by the Cabinet Office, Treasury, Scottish Government and Northern Ireland Executive to certain types of public bodies...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made by members of the public against police
Policing in the United Kingdom
Law enforcement in the United Kingdom is organised separately in each of the legal systems of the United Kingdom: England & Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland ....
forces in Scotland.
It was created under the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006. The PCCS took over its role from Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Scotland on 1 April 2007.
The Commissioner, John McNeill, has been in post since 17 August 2009, when he replaced Jim Martin for a three-year term. He was previously a Commissioner of the Scottish Human Rights Commission
Scottish Human Rights Commission
The Scottish Human Rights Commission was established by an Act of the Scottish Parliament [] and started their work in 2008. The Commission is independent of Government, and the Scottish and Westminster Parliaments. The Scottish Human Rights Commission promotes and protects the human rights of...
.
The Commissioner only handles non-criminal complaints; complaints involving allegations of criminality continue to be referred to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal
Procurator Fiscal
A procurator fiscal is a public prosecutor in Scotland. They investigate all sudden and suspicious deaths in Scotland , conduct Fatal Accident Inquiries and handle criminal complaints against the police A procurator fiscal (pl. procurators fiscal) is a public prosecutor in Scotland. They...
Service.
In December 2009, McNeill responded to a 13% rise in complaints against the police in 2008/09 by stating: "I would argue that any increase in complaints arises in part from the public having more confidence in the police and expecting higher standards from them."
In March 2010, McNeill urged Scottish police forces to adopt common guidelines about recording complaints.