In response, Mr Straw appointed consultants KPMG to consider changes. They have backed reform and in today's speech the home secretary will aim to take the process forward, to take into account the many people who no longer trust the present system. Independent civilian investigators will be introduced to examine issues such as deaths in custody, shootings and allegations of corruption. This could pave the way for investigators from the customs, inland revenue, serious fraud office and the legal profession to take charge of inquiries, although police could retain responsibility for some investigations. The aim is to produce a system which everyone accepts as impartial.
Most police officers think that the existing system has merits.
They claim that police officers are already subject to tight regulation and argue internal investigations provide the best way for forces to learn from their mistakes. Nonetheless, senior police figures say they will back the changes. They accept that reform is the only way for the police to win back public trust and also welcome the possibility that the new system will relieve hard-pressed police budgets of the cost of funding investigations.