APCC - Legally Qualified Chairs

The Association of Police & Crime Commissioners (APCC) sought the views of Police & Crime Commissioners on proposals to introduce  Legally Qualified Chairs (LQCs). The Police (Conduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2015 set out a new requirement for Local Policing Bodies to appoint LQCs for police misconduct panels.

The new parameters will come into effect on 1 January 2016. This reform is part of a wider suite of reforms to police complaints and discipline which the Home Office is proposing.

The overarching aim of those changes is to improve public confidence in the police complaints and discipline system by making it more independent of the police and, in the case of police misconduct panels, the Government felt that introducing more independence in misconduct panels, through using LQCs was one way of achieving this aim.

PCC's Response

The PCC's response to the consultation can be viewed here.