New commissioner to check on Lancashire police complaints

6:00pm Friday 15th February 2013 in News Photograph of the Author By Vanessa Cornall, Crime reporter

James Dipple-Johnstone James Dipple-Johnstone

THE Independent Police Complaints Commission has a new investigator dedicated to looking into complaints against Lancashire Police.

James Dipple-Johnstone has taken over as the North West IPCC commissioner and will concentrate his efforts on complaints made against officers in the county as well as holding the force to account.

The commissioner, who was appointed by the Home Secretary, is based at the IPCC office in Sale.

Mr Dipple-Johnstone, previously director of investigations at the Office of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, said: “I am really excited to join the IPCC and to be able to build the public’s confidence in the complaints procedure.

“Looking at Lancashire’s complaints performance last year, the figures show the force is broadly average with 36 per cent of complaints upheld.

“There has been an issue in the past with the number of non-recording appeals – complaints to the police that have not been recorded as complaints but brought to the attention of IPCC and upheld – but that now seems to be improving.”

The four-year appointment of the commissioner comes at the same time critics have claimed the IPCC needs to be more impartial. Concerns have been raised over the number of ex-police officers being employed to investigate IPCC cases.

Mr Dipple-Johnstone is currently heading the investigation into allegations that police ‘Tasered’ a blind Chorley man after mistaking his white stick for a samurai sword.

Comments (4)

6:16pm Fri 15 Feb 13

foxy lass says...

How much is his salary? Please can we use public money better, instead of another layer of audit roles. This IPCC local commissioner, then there is the county police commissioners. Theresa May is obsessed with the police organisation itself,and employing these witch-hunters. Why not just stick to employing more police officers. Oh no, I forgot, they have cut officer numbers. But they try and fool us to say crime figures are down! Come back Labour, all is forgiven!!!!!
How much is his salary? Please can we use public money better, instead of another layer of audit roles. This IPCC local commissioner, then there is the county police commissioners. Theresa May is obsessed with the police organisation itself,and employing these witch-hunters. Why not just stick to employing more police officers. Oh no, I forgot, they have cut officer numbers. But they try and fool us to say crime figures are down! Come back Labour, all is forgiven!!!!! foxy lass

6:28pm Fri 15 Feb 13

maxcollie says...

Is he going to checkif my dog is microchipped?
Is he going to checkif my dog is microchipped? maxcollie

6:30pm Fri 15 Feb 13

I_Love_Mommy says...

He's fair dishy !
He's fair dishy ! I_Love_Mommy

8:03pm Fri 15 Feb 13

clickhere says...

Will he be bringing to a early conclusion the IPCC enquiry into allegations of expense irregularities against our Police and Crime Commissioner?
I'm sure it can't be pleasant for him to have this hanging over his head.
Will he be bringing to a early conclusion the IPCC enquiry into allegations of expense irregularities against our Police and Crime Commissioner? I'm sure it can't be pleasant for him to have this hanging over his head. clickhere

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