A new independent police complaints system was promised by the government as part of a number of police reforms.

The existing Police Complaints Authority appoints senior policemen to investigate alleged wrongdoing and incompetence by other police forces. Its replacement is expected to have its own civilian investigators to look into the most serious complaints such as deaths in custody, fatal shootings and serious road accidents involving police drivers.

Other elements of the Police Bill will be new moves to encourage effective crime-fighting across force boundaries and wide-ranging changes to police procedures. It will also tackle the "Spanish practices" in forces whereby many officers retire early on the grounds of ill health.

The director of civil rights group Liberty, John Wadham, welcomed the plans for a new independent police complaints commission, saying that "it's important that the new commission is genuinely and visibly independent of the police and is fully resourced to investigate serious complaints".

The PCA said pilots of the new system will begin in four police forces this autumn - Avon and Somerset, Durham, Thames Valley and the Met.

House of Lords

First reading: January 24 2002 (HL Bill 48)

Second reading: February 5 2002

Committee

• 1st day: February 28 2002
• 2nd day: March 5 2002
• 3rd day: March 7 2002
• 4th day: March 12 2002

Report stage:

• First day: April 15 2002
• Second day: April 16 2002
• The bill as amended on report - HL Bill 74

Third reading: April 25 2002

House of Commons

First reading: April 26 2002 (HC Bill 127)

Second reading: May 7 2002

Standing Committee A

• 1st sitting: May 23 2002 (am)
• 2nd sitting: May 23 2002 (pm)
• 3rd sitting: June 11 2002 (pm)
• 4th sitting: June 13 2002 (am)
• 5th sitting: June 13 2002 (pm)
• 6th sitting: June 18 2002 (pm)
• 7th sitting: June 20 2002 (am)
• 8th sitting: June 20 2002 (pm)
• 9th sitting: June 25 2002 (am)
• 10th sitting: June 25 2002 (pm)
• 11th sitting: June 27 2002 (am)
• 12th sitting: June 27 2002 (pm)
• The bill as amended in committee: HL Bill 157

Remaining stages:

• 1st day: July 9 2002
• 2nd day: July 10 2002

House of Lords

Consideration of Commons amendments: July 22 2002

House of Commons

Consideration of Lords amendments: July 24 2002

Royal Assent: July 24 2002