Direct Communications Unit

2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF

Tel: 020 7035 4848

Fax: 020 7035 4745
www.homeoffice.gov.uk

terry.johnson@email.com
Mr Terry Johnson
Reference: T157/16

16 February 2016

Dear Mr Johnson,
Thank you for your e-mail of 30 December about your question concerning the funding of a
civil court case involving Independent Police Complaint Commission (IPCC) employees. I
have been asked to respond on behalf of the Home Office.
I apologise for the delay in my response to you. It may help if I explain that the IPCC is an
organisation independent from the Home Office.
Further to your letter, I have contacted the IPCC who have provided me with the following
information. The IPCC is signed up to the Civil Service Management Code in relation to
legal representation of employees at public expense. The Code provides for certain
agencies and departments to (at their discretion), grant civil servants access to some or all
of their legal representation required or to pay for some or all of their legal costs, provided
that the incident in question was committed or suffered within the scope of a civil servants
employment.
Concerning this specific incident, three IPCC employees sought a High Court Injunction in
relation to a case of harassment from a member of the public in connection to an ongoing
investigation.
The IPCC accepts that high profile and public interest cases will be subject to commentary
and criticism. However, the IPCC have a duty of care as an employer to support and
protect their staff when commentary or criticism becomes personal or of a harassing
nature.
I hope this addresses your concern.
Yours Sincerely,
Lisa Gregson
Email: Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk