This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Police Complaints Commissioner
23/03/2007
The new independent police complaints body is to be located in Hamilton, South Lanarkshire.
Jim Martin, Scotland's first Police Complaints Commissioner, will begin work from April 1 this year.
The PCCS office is currently based temporarily in central Glasgow but will move to Hamilton in South Lanarkshire as soon as possible.
The town has been chosen from a shortlist of seven areas following a location review by the Executive. Alongside socio-economic factors, Hamilton was selected due to its transport links and the availability of suitable potential accommodation for the Commissioner's office.
Measures in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 establishing the Commissioner's functions, powers and duties will come into force on that date.
The new Commissioner will provide independent scrutiny of the way police handle non-criminal complaints from the public. He will also have powers to direct police forces to re-examine any complaints that he considers have not been dealt with properly.
Investigations of criminal investigations about the police will continue to be handled by procurators fiscal.
Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson said:
"With record numbers of officers supported by record investment, Scotland's police forces are well equipped to make our communities safer places to live and work.
"Through the Police Act, we have provided them with the tools to police our country in the 21st Century.
"However, it is vital that the public continues to have confidence in the police service and that is why we have modernised Scotland's police complaints system by appointing an independent Police Complaints Commissioner.
"On taking on this important role, Jim Martin will have a strong remit to oversee how police organisations in Scotland handle complaints in general, and to review how individual cases have been dealt with.
"I am confident that Jim and his team will provide the transparent, independent scrutiny which the public has the right to expect. His work will help the police service build on existing strengths and develop a culture of learning from complaints. It will also contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, where the experiences of the public help drive up the quality of service provided by Scotland's police service."
The Police Complaints Commissioner, Jim Martin said:
"I am pleased to report that preparations are well under way for me and my team to be ready at the start of April. I welcome Ministers' decision to locate us in Hamilton, and I look forward to working from that base."
The measures in the Police, Public Order and Criminal Justice (Scotland) Act 2006 which will come into force on April 1 give the PCCS powers to:
Until now, dissatisfied complainers have been able to write to Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) to request a review. However from April HMIC will pass this function to the Police Complaints Commissioner for Scotland, enabling HMIC to focus entirely on its inspection role.
Stage 1 of the location review identified seven local authority areas as suitable for the new PCCS office: Glasgow, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and Inverclyde. Ministers have selected Hamilton (South Lanarkshire) from a within these seven areas.