The Home Secretary has not had any such discussions with the IPCC.
The Police Reform Act 2002 sets out the responsibilities of the IPCC and Chief Officers in keeping complainants informed and in the disclosure of information.
The Home Office has no role in the disclosure of information between a police force and a complainant.
(2) what definition of words of advice issued in a disciplinary context her Department uses; what representations on the definition she has received since June 2007; and if she will make a statement.
The Home Office does not hold a central record of outcomes of disciplinary action. This is a matter for the Chief Officer of each force.
The phrase "words of advice" is not defined in the current disciplinary regulations (Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008), nor was it used in the preceding regulations: the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2004.
Under the previous disciplinary arrangements, the term 'words of advice' was used in the Home Office Guidance on 'Unsatisfactory Performance, Complaints and Misconduct Procedures' to refer to a managerial method for dealing with allegations of misconduct.
Under the current regulations (the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2008) one possible outcome from a formal disciplinary meeting is management advice. Management advice is defined in the regulations to mean "management action imposed following misconduct proceedings or an appeal meeting".
(2) what research her Department (a) has undertaken, (b) plans to undertake and (c) has evaluated on the complaints made to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) that have been upheld since the establishment of the IPCC; and if she will make a statement;
(3) what research her Department (a) has undertaken, (b) plans to undertake and (c) has evaluated on the number of complaints that have been made against police officers in (i) Southend and (ii) Essex in each year since 1997; and what action was taken against each officer concerned when complaints were upheld.
The Home Office has not carried out any research into the number of complaints nationally, by force area, or more locally made against police officers, and has no plans to do so. Responsibility for the guardianship of the police complaints system is the statutory responsibility of the IPCC.
As part of that role, the IPCC analyses and publishes statistics detailing the number and type of complaints made by members of the public and also their outcomes. These reports can be accessed via the IPCC website on www.ipcc.gov.uk. In addition, the IPCC regularly collates and disseminates best practice through its “Learning the Lessons” bulletins, which are also published on its website.
In its 15th report—Independent Police Complaints Commission—published on 31 March 2009, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) recommended that the Home Office should clarify who is responsible for monitoring the implementation of IPCC recommendations. Discussions are already underway between the IPCC, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) and police authorities on introducing an appropriate system.