Comment from APCC on publication of IOPC research on mental health in the Police complaints system
The APCC has welcomed the publication of the IOPC Report: Research into the Public Confidence of People with Mental Health Concerns in the Police Complaints.
APCC Lead for Integrity and Transparency, Julia Mulligan, said:
"The Police Complaints system is changing for the better, but all those involved need to be ambitious within those changes to ensure making complaints is easy and the process worthwhile. This is even more important for vulnerable people.
"North Yorkshire Police and others were recently flagged as best practice in many areas of mental health support, and that skill and expertise now needs to be focused on Police complaints, and as Commissioners we will be making sure they are true to their word. Clearly this applies to about mental health complainants as to anyone else."
APCC Deputy Lead for Integrity and Transparency, Dame Vera Baird QC, said:
“As Police and Crime Commissioners, we want the Complaints System to be as easy as possible and flexible enough to offer extra support when needed. In my Force area, Northumbria, police officers and staff are working hard to support those with mental health concerns and their work has been commended nationally, so I welcome this report to further enhance our learning locally.
“I know the IOPC are working to implement changes to how complaints are dealt with and I am pleased to see that they will take learning from this report.”
Read the full report here.
NB: Julia Mulligan is the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire. And Dame Vera Baird QC is Northumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner.