Criminologist and campaigner Sheelagh Cooper has accused Government of financially starving the Police Complaints Authority (PCA), despite its crucial function in a democracy.Ms Cooper, from the Coalition for the Protection of Children, said the independent board’s $20,000 allocation in the 2012/13 Budget was not enough for it to carry out its role properly.But the Ministry of National Security said its ability to transfer money in support of programmes or to supplement priorities during the fiscal year should allay her concerns.As previously revealed by The Royal Gazette, there were 22 complaints of police misconduct in the first six months of this year, compared to 25 for the whole of 2011.The volunteer PCA currently has no chairman, an active caseload of 24 unresolved complaints dating back four years and a part-time administrative assistant.Figures from the board’s last annual report suggest it gets on average about 50 complaints a year: 54 in 2010, 43 in 2009, 24 in 2008, 35 in 2007, 55 in 2006, 48 in 2005, 48 in 2004, 56 in 2003, 49 in 2002, 59 in 2001 and 69 in 2000.Ms Cooper said: “As a criminologist, I am very concerned about the continued lack of human and financial resources available to the PCA.“This is tantamount to ensuring that there is, in effect, very little accountability for the police in terms of their dealing with the general public.“A robust system which gives voice to people who have complaints about their treatment by police is essential to the police function in a democratic society.“When this kind of fiscal starvation results in what we now find is an unacceptable backlog, the consequences for good discipline in the police are obvious.”Ms Cooper said the budget for this fiscal year, which is identical to the previous year, would likely result in an increase in the backlog of complaints.Of the 25 complaints made last year, the PCA has dealt with 16 and has yet to resolve six. Three grievances are still being investigated by Bermuda Police Service’s Professional Conduct Unit and have not been passed to the board so far.Ms Cooper said: “The first six months of this year resulted in 22 complaints, when the whole of last year resulted in 25. At the current rate, the number of complaints in 2012 will double that of 2011.“If the PCA cannot handle the numbers presented last year they are sure to dissolve further into backlog as we go forward.”She added it was “even more worrying” that one serving officer was the subject of eight of the unresolved complaints since 2008 yet remained an active member of the force.“It is simply unreasonable to expect the PCA to handle the volume and complexity of these cases without, at the very least, adequate paid administrative support,” said Ms Cooper.“Despite assurances that adequate funding would be forthcoming, we have seen no evidence of that in the last several budgets.“This speaks volumes about the Government’s concern for proper police discipline where it concerns their dealings with the public.”Opposition Senate leader Michael Dunkley said Government’s commitment in November’s Throne Speech to give additional resources to the PCA “fell flat in the Budget” in February.He described the board as “currently a toothless tiger” but said he was glad it was getting some media attention.The PCA said in a statement last week it had “confidence in itself and has the confidence of Government in its role as the overseer of discipline in the BPS”.The five-member board added: “It is not an easy task that we have taken on as volunteers, operating with one of the smallest budgets in Government.”A spokesman for the Ministry of National Security said two retired police officers had been identified to handle cases for the PCA and the Ministry had “preliminarily discussed the means of funding these investigators without having to increase or overspend the $20K allocation in this fiscal year”.Asked if Government would amend the Police Discipline Orders, as recommended by the PCA in its last annual report, the spokesman said the amendment of legislation was a priority across Government and was subject to the appropriate allocation of staff resources to meet the objectives of any legislative session.He added: “Internal virements (money transfers) and budgeting re-prioritisation are used regularly during the course of any fiscal year to support initiatives that may be required.“The Minister has considered the last report and will work with the PCA’s [yet to be appointed] new chairman to address those issues that are identified as important for the discharge of their function. That support will include funding as resources permit.”Useful website: www.bps.bm