HL Deb 06 April 2004 vol 659 cc223-4WA
Lord Bradshaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the estimated cost of setting up the new Independent Police Complaints Commission. [HL2037]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The programme of work setting up the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and the new police complaints system began in September 2002. In 2002–03 the budget for the implementation of the new complaints system, which included the establishment of the IPCC, was approximately £1.7 million. In 2003–04, the IPCC's set-up year, the Home Office allocated £15 million resource expenditure and £11.5 million capital expenditure to the IPCC.

Lord Bradshaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What additional resources are required by police forces to respond to the new Independent Police Complaints Commission. [HL2038]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

Neither the Home Office nor the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) has required police forces to devote additional resources to respond to the new complaints system and no additional money has been provided.

Any changes to the resources allocated to this area have been determined by police forces themselves within their existing budgets. These changes have not been quantified and to do so would incur a disproportionate cost.

While it is impossible to predict exactly, it is believed that the new system will bring both costs and savings for police forces, with the intention of greater efficiency over the long term. The exact resource implications of the new system will be informed by early operational experience.

Lord Bradshaw

asked Her Majesty's Government:

When the guidance about the new Independent Police Complaints Commission will be published. [HL2039]

Baroness Scotland of Asthal

The Home Office has produced interim guidance on the new complaints system and the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) to inform preparation and early operation. This guidance was distributed to all police forces in February 2004.

The Police Reform Act 2002 gives the IPCC responsibility for providing statutory guidance about the new complaints system. The IPCC intends to produce this statutory guidance from October 2004 based on consultation and the experience gained in the period following its launch on 1 April 2004.