Independent Police Complaints Board to terminate its operation on 27 February, responsibilities taken over by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights

Pursuant to Section 145 of Act CIX of 2019 adopted by the National Assembly, the Independent Police Complaints Board terminates its operation on 27 February 2020, and its responsibilities will be taken over by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights. The reports to be prepared as a result of the Ombudsman’s inquiries into police complaints will be followed by an administrative procedure conducted by the police. After this act takes effect, the complainants may submit their petitions requesting the launching of inquiries to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights.

According to the provisions set out in Act CXXV of 2018 on Government Administration adopted by the National Assembly, as well as Section 145 of Act CIX of 2019 on the Amendment of some Laws related to Act CXXV of 2018 on Government Administration, the Independent Police Complaints Board (hereinafter referred to as: the Board), will terminate its operation on 27 February, and its responsibilities will be taken over by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights.

The procedure on police complaints is conducted by the Ombudsman on the basis of Section 39/F-L of Act CXI of 2011 on the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights, which, similarly to the earlier procedure of the Board, is not an administrative procedure. The reports to be prepared as a result of the Ombudsman’s inquiries into police complaints will be followed by an administrative procedure conducted by the police. It is possible to request legal remedy against the decision made as a result of such procedure according to the Rules of Procedure for Judicial Review of Administrative Decisions.

With effect from 27 February 2020, the complainants may submit their petitions requesting the launching of an inquiry to the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights to the following address: 1387 Budapest, Pf. 40, to the e-mail address panasz@ajbh.hu, or petitions may be lodged personally at the Complaint Office located at 1054 Budapest, Vértanúk tere 1. in the opening hours. The phone number of this office is 06-1-798-3686 or 06-1-790-6886.