Tips for Smart Cops Series
IPCC Observers Scheme

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1. The aim of introducing the Independent Police Complaints Council (IPCC) Observers Scheme is to enhance the IPCC's monitoring function in the police complaints system.

2. Either IPCC Members or community leaders can be appointed as IPCC Observers.

3. The role of IPCC Observers is to observe whether investigation into complaints is properly, fairly and impartially conducted by police officers.

4. To ensure fairness and impartiality, IPCC Observers will not interfere with the conduct of interviews by investigation officers. They are not allowed to pose any question to the interviewer or interviewee, or express any personal views while the interview is in progress.

5. IPCC Observers will submit reports to the IPCC Secretariat after each observation. If irregularities or good performances have been observed during the interviews, the IPCC will raise the irregularities with CAPO or make favourable comments on the performances.

6. IPCC Observers will keep, in strict confidence, all information acquired in the course of observations. They will not release such information to any other party, except IPCC and CAPO, unless with the consent of the interviewee.

7. If an IPCC Observer wishes to observe an interview, the officer concerned should familiarise himself with the duties of an IPCC Observer by reading the appropriate leaflet on the Scheme, before conducting the interview.

8. Officers can obtain the leaflet from station report rooms, CAPO and IPCC.

9. The officer making an appointment for an IPCC Observer to observe an interview should confirm the time and date with the interviewee in advance and make a relevant record in the CAPO file.

10. In case the interview (in situation 9 above) has been re-scheduled or cancelled, or the interviewee will be late, the officer concerned should inform the IPCC Secretariat or the IPCC Observer as soon as practicable so that suitable arrangements can be made.

(This column is contributed by the Complaints and Internal Investigations Branch)