Name of the Organization : Independent Police Conduct Authority
Type of Facility : Online Complaint Form
Country : New Zealand
Website : http://www.ipca.govt.nz/tools/email.aspx?SECT=complaints
Online Complaint Form:
If you have any questions, please contact the Authority’s Complaints Management Team by emailing enquiries AT ipca.govt.nz or phoning toll-free on 0800 503 728.
Related : New Zealand Police Clearance Certificate : www.statusin.org/7709.html
You can also make your complaint directly to the Police by visiting a Police station.
Fields marked with a * are compulsory.
Help with complaints:
You can get help with complaints from a lawyer or another advisor or support person.
The following organisations may be able to provide advice or assistance with a complaint.
Finding a lawyer:
You can find a lawyer through your District Law Society. Visit the New Zealand Law Society’s website or phone (04) 472 7837 for assistance.
Community Law Centres:
Community law centres provide a range of community legal services including free legal advice, legal assistance and representation, legal information, legal education and law reform activities.
Citizens Advice Bureaux:
Citizens’ Advice Bureaux provide free, impartial and confidential information and assistance. They may be able to help with the process of making a complaint, or lodging your complaint, or giving other appropriate assistance. There are Citizens Advice Bureaux throughout New Zealand. For details, see the Citizens’ Advice Bureaux website or phone 0800 FOR CAB (0800 367 222).
Citizens’ Advice Bureaux may be able to provide assistance in languages other than English.
LawAccess:
LawAccess is a government website providing information about New Zealand laws and citizens’ rights.
Other sources of help:
You may also be able to find someone to help with a complaint by asking family members or asking at your church, club, or any other community organisation you belong to.
Complaints data :
The Authority receives about 2000 complaints each year. More detailed information is also available in our latest Annual Report.
During the 12 month period to 30 June 2016, 2441 complaints and referrals were received, compared to the 2515 complaints and referrals received in the previous year. In 2015/16, the most common complaints were over: attitude/language; performance/attendance; practice and procedure; and failure to investigate.
What were the complaints about?
During 2015/16 :
** There were 73 complaints categorised as Category 1. Those complaints were of the most serious type and required independent investigation or oversight by the Authority. They included allegations of serious assaults by Police officers, failures by Police to adequately investigate serious matters, and deaths or injuries following Police pursuits.
** The Authority released 21 public reports.
** There have been six Police shooting incidents during the financial year; three fatal and three non-fatal. There were three Police shooting incidents in the previous financial year and the Authority has concluded those investigations.
Investigations :
** The Authority continues to maintain a stable caseload of independent investigations in the face of increasing numbers of complaints and incidents. We completed 75 independent investigations during the year and had 62 ongoing open investigations at 30 June 2016.
Age of complaints :
** As at 30 June, 90% of the Authority’s Independent investigations in Category 1 cases were in line with the target measures. This is a marked improvement on last year’s performance, and shows that the Authority has essentially eliminated the large backlog of cases that existed in earlier years.