NLJ this week: Police misconduct policers fear prospect of being sued

Those who police the police are Legally Qualified Chairs and Independent Panel Members (LQCs and IPMs), who are appointed by Police and Crime Commissioners, to serve on police misconduct hearing panels. They need to do so without fear or favour yet, as Cowan reports, LQCs and IPMs are withdrawing their services because they fear being sued for acts or omissions of the panel, following a recent case.

Cowan writes: ‘This is challenging, important and responsible work, yet, while those who sit in courts and tribunals have judicial immunity, because they are judicial appointments, LQCs and IPMs do not, despite having to fulfil the criteria for such in order to be appointed.’