27 Jan 2015
Police service committed to ensuring a complaints process that has victims' confidence
Following this morning's report by the Victims' Commissioner, Baroness Newlove, into complaints systems for victims in the criminal justice system, National Policing Lead for Victims and Witnesses, Assistant Chief Constable Gary Cann, has pledged to work with colleagues across the service to make sure that the police's own complaints processes are operating in the best possible way so as to ensure the confidence of victims who feel they have cause for complaint.
ACC Cann said:
“I very much welcome Baroness Newlove’s report as Victims Commissioner on her review into the complaints processes for victims within the criminal justice agencies.
“For the police service’s part, I agree with the Commissioner that it is important both for victims of crime to have clear avenues to raise concerns where they feel something has gone wrong and for agencies to have mechanisms which allow for swift resolution of simple issues without engaging in protracted formal procedures.
“I will be working with the National Policing Lead for Professional Standards and with the College of Policing to assess the police service’s current procedures as set against the Commissioner’s complaints handling standards. We will be making every effort to ensure that complaints and concerns raised by victims are dealt with in the best possible manner, and I look forward to reporting back to the Commissioner and the Criminal Justice Board on this topic in March.”
ENDS
NB: Baroness Newlove's report can be viewed here: http://victimscommissioner.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/A-Review-of-Complaints-and-Resolution-for-Victims-of-Crime_January20151.pdf
Contact information
Communications office
By phone: 0800 538 5058
By email: press.office@npcc.police.uk