Sarah Green has been appointed as an operational commissioner at the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) for a term of five years, and will take up her post at the beginning of March.
Green’s role will be to ensure the IPCC meets its statutory obligations in overseeing the police complaints system, maintains an effective and efficient oversight system and raises public confidence in the IPCC’s work.
A Cambridge graduate, Green is a qualified solicitor and was the head of legal services for the East of England Development Agency (a post she had held since 2007).
Prior to this, Green performed several roles within the Legal Services Commission (formerly the Legal Aid Board) from 1994 to 2007, and was latterly head of the Legal Service Commission’s civil change programme.
In her new role, Green will receive a remuneration of GB pound 75,850 per annum (plus applicable allowance and pension) and has no other public appointments.
Building public confidence in the police complaints system
Nick Herbert, the minister of state for policing and criminal justice, said: “I’m pleased to announce Sarah Green’s appointment as an IPCC commissioner, where she will play a vital role in its work to build public confidence in the police complaints system.”
All appointments are made on merit, and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there’s a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any such has been declared) to be made public. Ms Green is not currently politically active, nor a member of a political party.
IPCC commissioners are public appointments made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of Commissioner for Public Appointments (OCPA).
The IPCC chairman is appointed by the Crown, while all other commissioners are appointed by ministers.
Ms Green’s selection was carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the OCPA. The process was overseen throughout by an OCPA-appointed Independent Public Appointments Assessor (IPAA).
Commissioners are appointed on either a three or five-year term. A second term of office will be at the discretion of the Home Secretary.
Further information on the IPCC
The IPCC was established on 1 April 2004, replacing the Police Complaints Authority (PCA). It has has wider powers than the PCA, having responsibilities for the police and Government in fulfilling its remit.
The constitution of the IPCC is set out in the Police Reform Act 2002 (Part 2, Section 9).
IPCC commissioners cannot have held office as a constable in any part of the UK, and are not regarded as a servant or agent of the Crown. They do not enjoy any status, privilege or immunity of the Crown.
The OCPA supports the work of the Commissioner for Public Appointments, a position which is independent of the Government.
Her Majesty The Queen has approved the appointment of Sir David Normington to the role of Commissioner of Public Appointments, and he will take up this post in April. The interim Commissioner is Mark Addison, who has been appointed from 1 January to 31 March.
The role of the Commissioner for public appointments is to regulate, monitor, report and advise on appointments made by UK ministers and by members of the Welsh Assembly Government to the Boards of around 1,100 national and regional public bodies.
Some bodies within Northern Ireland also fall under the Commissioner’s remit.
