New appointment to the independent police complaints commision announced
A new Commissioner has been appointed to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
Sarah Green has been appointed as an operational Commissioner at the IPCC for a term of five years and will take up her post at the beginning of March 2011. Her role will be to ensure the IPCC meets its statutory obligations in overseeing the police complaints system; maintains an effective and efficient oversight system and raises public confidence in the IPCC’s work.
Ms Green is a Cambridge graduate; a qualified solicitor and was the Head of Legal Services for the East of England Development Agency, a post she had held since 2007.
Prior to this, Ms Green performed several roles within the Legal Services Commission (formerly the Legal Aid Board) from 1994 to 2007 and was latterly Legal Service Commission’s Head of Civil Change Programme. She will receive a remuneration of £75,850 per annum plus applicable allowance and pension and has no other public appointments.
Nick Herbert quote
Nick Herbert, minister of state for policing and criminal justice said: ‘I am pleased to announce Ms Green’s appointment as an IPCC Commissioner, where she will play a vital role in its work to build public confidence in the police complaints system.’
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. Ms Green is not currently politically active or a member of a political party.
IPCC Commissioners are public appointments, made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). The IPCC Chairman is appointed by the Crown and all other Commissioners appointed by Ministers.
Notes to editors
- Ms Green’s selection was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA). It was overseen, throughout, by an OCPA appointed Independent Public Appointments Assessor (IPAA). Commissioners are appointed on either a three or five year term. A second term will be at the discretion of the Home Secretary.
2. The IPCC was established on 1 April 2004, replacing the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). The IPCC has wider powers than the PCA. It has responsibilities for the police and government in fulfilling its remit. The constitution of the IPCC is set out in the Police Reform Act 2002, Part 2, Section 9.
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IPCC Commissioners cannot have held office as a constable in any part of the UK, and are not regarded as a servant or agent of the Crown, and do not enjoy any status, privilege or immunity of the Crown.
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OCPA supports the work of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, a position which is independent of the Government. The Queen has approved the appointment of Sir David Normington to the role of Commissioner of Public Appointments and he will take up this post in April 2011. The interim Commissioner is Mark Addison, who has been appointed from 1 January to 31 March 2011.
5. The role of the Commissioner for public appointments is to regulate, monitor, report and advise on appointments made by UK Ministers and by members of the Welsh Assembly Government to the boards of around 1,100 national and regional public bodies. Some bodies within Northern Ireland also fall under Commissioner’s remit.