Bilateral Meeting on Best Practices in Police Complaint Handling with Head of PIRC in Edinburgh

On 23 February 2020, Commissioner for Fundamental Rights Dr. Ákos Kozma led bilateral discussions with Scotland’s Police Investigations & Review Commissioner (PIRC) Ms Michelle Macleod in Edinburgh.

Ms Michelle Macleod gave a detailed presentation about the functioning of the PIRC, its investigative methods relating to the handling of complaints by the police and the process of reviewing complaints. Furthermore, she talked about the experience gained while conducting these proceedings as well as about their achievements.

Dr. Ákos Kozma informed Ms Michelle Macleod that pursuant to the new legislation adopted by the National Assembly in Hungary, the Independent Police Complaints’ Board will cease to exist on 27 February 2020 and its tasks will be taken over by the Commissioner for Fundamental Rights.

During the meeting, Dr. Ákos Kozma emphasised the high priority of adopting good practices, especially the results and experience gained from the investigation of fundamental rights related complaints that emerged in Scottish police procedures, and their application within the domestic legal framework.