Police Corruption

Published date01 February 1999
Pages354-357
DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1108/eb025907
Date01 February 1999
AuthorTony Williams
Subject MatterAccounting & finance
Journal of Financial Crime Vol. 6 No. 4 Corruption
CORRUPTION
Police Corruption
Tony Williams
'Power tends to corrupt and absolute power
corrupts absolutely.' (Lord Acton)
Before considering anti-corruption operations it
would be helpful if the role of the Police Complaints
Authority were briefly outlined. It is an independent
body established by Act of Parliament the Police
and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to oversee
complaints by members of the public against police
officers in England and Wales. There are just 12
members, supported by 60 civil servants seconded
from various government departments. The mem-
bers are all full time and come from a wide variety
of backgrounds.
The Authority covers 49 police forces in England
and Wales and has three main functions: to supervise
the investigation of the most serious complaints
against police officers; to supervise enquiries into
non-complaint matters voluntarily referred by
forces because of their potential gravity most
Page 354

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