How has the IPCC Act 2020 restricted the scope of police misconduct investigations?

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The IPCC Act 2020 Significantly Limits Investigations into Police Misconduct

The IPCC Act 2020 restricts the Independent Police Conduct Commission's (IPCC) ability to investigate police misconduct by excluding offences covered under Sections 96 and 97 of the Police Act 1967. This exclusion is particularly impactful given that the Inspector General’s Standing Orders (IGSOs), established under Section 97, define over 100 types of minor and major misconduct, effectively placing the vast majority of potential disciplinary issues outside the IPCC's investigative remit. To ensure genuine police accountability, this prohibition on investigating misconduct regulated by these specific sections of the Police Act 1967 must be removed.
Exclusion of Offences Under Police Act 1967

The IPCC Act 2020 explicitly states that any misconduct regulated under Section 96 and Section 97 of the Police Act 1967 falls outside the jurisdiction of the IPCC. This legislative carve-out is a primary mechanism by which the Act limits the scope of investigations. The intent behind the original Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill 2005 and the IPCMC Bill 2019 was to grant a broader mandate for investigating misconduct.
Pervasive Nature of IGSO Regulations

The Inspector General’s Standing Orders (IGSOs), which are made pursuant to Section 97 of the Police Act 1967, enumerate more than 100 distinct categories of both minor and major misconduct. This extensive list means that a substantial proportion of all potential police misconduct would be governed by the IGSOs. Consequently, by excluding matters regulated under Sections 96 and 97, the IPCC Act 2020 effectively shields the majority of police misconduct from independent review by the IPCC.
Impact on Police Accountability

The limitation on the IPCC's scope of investigation directly undermines its intended purpose of ensuring police accountability. With most misconducts falling under the purview of the IGSOs, the IPCC's capacity to address a wide range of disciplinary issues is severely curtailed. For the IPCC to effectively function as a mechanism for accountability, the prohibition on investigating misconducts regulated under Sections 96 and 97 of the Police Act 1967 needs to be repealed.

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How has the IPCC Act 2020 restricted the scope of police misconduct investigations?

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