Request for information on the person responsible for dealing with complaints against the Chief Constable.

Reference: 20024

Date Added: Tuesday, March 2, 2021

Category: Complaints

Disclosure Details

The appropriate authority for a complaint or recordable conduct matter that relates to the conduct of a Chief Constable or acting Chief Constable is the local policing body with responsibility for that police force area. The Police and Crime Commissioner is the Appropriate Authority – please refer to Section 29, Police Reform Act 2002.  This role has been delegated to the Chief Executive by the PCC.  Our current Manual of Corporate Governance evidences this on page 65 paragraph 4.15 and states:

               To consider any complaint made against the Chief Constable in consultation with the Commissioner and in line with any IOPC guidance, and where deemed appropriate to make arrangements for the appointment of an Investigating Officer to investigate the complaint.  To be the responsible officer for all relevant reviews in relation to complaints recorded by Gwent Police.

Whilst undertaking the review of the MoCG we noticed that we did not refer specifically to the role of ‘Appropriate Authority’ (this was evidenced in the link to the report we sent you dated 3rd March) so we will be amending the MoCG to reflect this with the wording below shortly:

              To be the Appropriate Authority for all complaints against the Chief Constable and for all relevant reviews in relation to complaints recorded by Gwent Police.  To consider any complaint made against the Chief Constable in consultation with the Commissioner and in line with any IOPC guidance, and where deemed appropriate to make arrangements for the appointment of an Investigating Officer to investigate the complaint.