An expanded remit for the Police Complaints Commissioner “raises the bar” in how officers are to be held to account, a report has claimed.
Professor John McNeil will now investigate serious incidents involving police, rather than senior officers from other forces leading investigations.
Due to the creation of a new single police service there are no longer separate forces, so the commissioner will lead independent investigations into complaints with his office renamed Police Investigations and Review Commissioner.
Professor McNeil said there was a 27% rise in the number of cases he dealt with in the year to March 31 2013.
