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NPC publishes new rules for public complaints against police
View(s):The National Police Commission (NPC) has gazetted new rules of procedure under which public complaints against police officers or the police service will be recorded and investigated.
The last time such rules were promulgated was in November 2017.
Complaints can now be lodged with the NPC’s Public Complaints Investigation Division (PCID) or with any of its provincial offices, along with such details as the police station against which the complaint is made and the identity of the relevant police officers.
These complaints shall be acknowledged by the relevant “authorised officer” without any delay and, in any event, within 10 working days of their receipt. The Commission is vested with the authority to appoint additional, independent investigating officers to investigate public complaints, as and when the necessity arises.
The Commission may empower an authorised officer or any other independent investigating officer it appoints to visit any police station in the course of inquiring into complaints (including people in police cells) to question and examine them, as well as to obtain any copies of statements made to the police and other documents.
The Inspector General of Police is bound to issue specific instructions obligating all police officers and stations to expeditiously provide all required material, information and documents. Irrespective of their rank, police officers must provide reports, documents, etc., within two weeks from the date of receiving a request from an authorised or investigating officer. There is a limit of two weeks on any time extension.
The Commission shall endeavour to complete the investigation into public complaints within three months of their receipt, the gazette states. Every complainant has the right to be informed of the decision in relation to his or her submission.
Any police officer found to have breached discipline or the code of conduct or to be responsible for behaviour that could be classified as “unbecoming of a police officer” will be dealt with under prevailing laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the provisions of the Establishment Code, Departmental Orders made under the Police Ordinance and applicable government circulars.
If evidence is found of a criminal offence, the matter will be referred to the IGP for necessary action.
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