The Independent Police Conduct Authority is the only official New Zealand Police oversight body. We handle, investigate and resolve complaints about the Police. By law we're also notified of and may investigate incidents where Police have caused death or serious injury. We also monitor places of Police detention to ensure human rights standards are being met. How we act on complaints When we receive a complaint, we may carry out our own investigation, refer the complaint to the Police for investigation or coordinate resolution of the complaint. In some cases, we'll talk to you and the Police about the best way to resolve your complaint. We stay involved until your case is closed. When a complaint is referred to the Police for investigation, we take steps to ensure the investigation is properly undertaken. This normally means actively overseeing and reviewing it when it's completed. Notifying Police of complaints Police must also inform us of any incident in which Police staff, acting in the execution of their duty, cause death or serious injury. We have responsibilities under three pieces of legislations. 1. The Independent Police Conduct Authority Act 1988 We were established by Parliament under the Independent Police Conduct Authority Act in 1988 2. The Crown Entities Act 2004 As an Independent Crown entity we are politically independent and accountable only to Parliament for our performance and use of taxpayer funding. 3. The Crimes of Torture Act 1989 We have responsibilities under the Crimes of Torture Act 1989 and the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture (OPCAT). The focus is to prevent human rights breaches in places of Police detention. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Thee also exists an MoU between the IPCA and the NZ Police. This sets out the principles and processes through which each work together to ensure effective independent oversight.