12-month investigation letters (Regulation 13 notifications)
The Chief Constable must report to both the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and the PCC.
Reporting must take place when a local investigation is open for longer than 12 months (and at six month intervals after that.)
The IOPC has a parallel duty to report its own investigations to the PCC. This makes sure the same scrutiny applies.
The OPCC has a database to monitor Regulation 13 letters. This is to capture and understand reasons for delays in investigations.
The scrutiny of Regulation 13 letters enables the PCC to hold the Chief Constable to account for the timeliness of investigations.
Over time, information may help to identify common factors which impact upon timeliness. Sometimes these factors are outside the force’s control. For example, investigations may be subjudice whilst awaiting trial at court.
Since 1 February 2020, Cleveland Police has issued six letters under Regulation 13., where an investigation has taken longer than 12 months.
Monitoring and improving performance (timeliness and quality of police responses)
Cleveland Police’s Directorate of Standards and Ethics (DSE) monitors the force’s performance in respect of complaint handling and their own Performance Framework.
The Directorate holds weekly meetings to discuss individual cases, ongoing developments and emerging issues. This is to improve the quality of service.
Cleveland Police has a governance process. It lets the force learn from complaints and conduct matters as well as capitalise on good practice.
Key information is collected and reported to the Organisational Learning Board and Standards and Ethics Board.
Trends and intelligence are discussed and actioned accordingly. The OPCC uses the force’s existing procedures to log expressions of dissatisfaction.
Within these procedures, it is likely that there will be key data. As a result, this may identify trends or individual officers’ repeat behaviours. This requires a holistic overview and intervention. Information should be reported to the monthly strategic meeting as part of the service standards and performance reporting.
Organisational learning bulletin
A monthly organisational learning bulletin called Centurion allows staff to complete organisational learning as a separate field. The Corporate Communications Unit disseminates this information force-wide.
Administrative Arrangements to hold the Chief Constable to account for complaints handling
The PCC uses several approaches to hold the Chief Constable to account. Some of them are delegated to appropriate members of the OPCC team.