THE Government yesterday stood firm against calls to make the panel which investigates complaints against the police independent.
The Security Branch said it would be difficult for civilians to investigate complaints against the force, although it had not ruled out a proposal to allow the Police Complaints Committee (PCC), a monitoring body, to interview witnesses.
''We think the investigation would be best done by police, since it would need the exercise of police judgement,'' said Principal Assistant Secretary for Security, Mrs Marion Lai Chan Chi-kuen.
''Non-police elements may have difficulties in coping with the task.'' Mrs Lai said that even though civilians could be trained to conduct investigations, civilians would not have an officer's experience of conflict with the public.
Mrs Lai said the problem with the Complaints Against Police Office was a perception that the public did not believe it was fair in its investigations.
She said more work would be done to promote public understanding of the police complaints system.
