Police Reform Act 2002

9 The Independent Police Complaints Commission

(1) There shall be a body corporate to be known as the Independent Police Complaints Commission (in this Part referred to as “the Commission”).

(2) The Commission shall consist of—

(a) a chairman appointed by Her Majesty; and

(b) not less than ten other members appointed by the Secretary of State.

(3) A person shall not be appointed as the chairman of the Commission, or as another member of the Commission, if—

(a) he holds or has held office as a constable in any part of the United Kingdom;

(b) he is or has been under the direction and control of a chief officer or of any person holding an equivalent office in Scotland or Northern Ireland;

(c) he is a person in relation to whom a designation under section 39 is or has been in force;

(d) he is a person in relation to whom an accreditation under section 41 is or has been in force;

(e) he is or has been a member of the National Criminal Intelligence Service or the National Crime Squad; or

(f) he is or has at any time been a member of a body of constables which at the time of his membership is or was a body of constables in relation to which any procedures are or were in force by virtue of an agreement or order under—

(i) section 26 of this Act; or

(ii) section 78 of the 1996 Act or section 96 of the 1984 Act (which made provision corresponding to that made by section 26 of this Act).

(4) An appointment made in contravention of subsection (3) shall have no effect.

(5) The Commission shall not—

(a) be regarded as the servant or agent of the Crown; or

(b) enjoy any status, privilege or immunity of the Crown;

and the Commission’s property shall not be regarded as property of, or property held on behalf of, the Crown.

(6) Schedule 2 (which makes further provision in relation to the Commission) shall have effect.

(7) The Police Complaints Authority shall cease to exist on such day as the Secretary of State may by order appoint.