Police Complaints Commissioner

The Police Complaints Commissioner is responsible for overseeing the investigation of complaints made to the Department of Home Affairs regarding the Isle of Man Constabulary.

Former Clerk of Tynwald, Robert Quayle, was appointed Police Complaints Commissioner on 1st September 2007. The role of the Commissioner is to supervise the investigation by a senior police officer of any complaint of a serious nature against police officers of the Isle of Man Constabulary and, where it appears to him to be desirable in the public interest to do so, to supervise the investigation of any other formal complaint against a police officer.

The authority for the appointment and the full duties of the Commissioner are set out in Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1993. Paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to the Police Act 1993 requires the Lieutenant Governor, after consultation with the Department, to appoint a person to perform the functions of Police Complaints Commissioner. The Act disqualifies any person who has been a member of any police force (in the Island or elsewhere) or who is a member of the Council of Ministers or the House of Keys.

The work of the Commissioner is complex and the legal complexities have increased in the last three years. There is no requirement for the Commissioner to have a legal background but because of the complexities it is beneficial. However, it may not be necessary for an Acting Commissioner hearing only one case to have a legal background.

The total number of cases supervised by the Commissioner in recent years is as follows:

• 2000-2001: 24 complaints
• 2001-2002: 34 complaints
• 2002-2003: 30 complaints
• 2003-2004: 16 complaints
• 2004-2005: 29 complaints
• 2005-2006: 20 complaints
• 2006-2007: 20 complaints
• 2007-2008: 28 complaints

It must be stressed that the Commissioner’s role is to supervise the investigations and not to investigate complaints - that remains the responsibility of senior police officers. The Department is currently undertaking a review of the complaints procedure and therefore the role of the Commissioner may change in due course.

Mr Quayle was appointed following the resignation of the previous postholder. The appointment is initially for a three year term, which can be extended.

He can be contacted direct at the following address:

• Police Complaints Commissioner
• PO Box 12
• Peel
• ISLE OF MAN
• IM99 9XS