The Secretariat of the Independent Advisory Panel Bill (No. XIX of 2026)

Preliminary independent scrutiny note, 22 October 2026. An Independent Advisory Panel can add value only if it is institutionally independent, equipped to act and accessible to persons who report wrongdoing or question the exercise of significant investigative powers. The Secretariat's function must be defined in relation to the Panel and must not substitute its own decisions for independent scrutiny.

The full statutory powers, appointment provisions, complaint procedures and information-handling rules of Bill XIX require examination alongside the National Crime Agency Bill. The points below are safeguards to check and consider, not assertions that the official Bill fails to provide them.

Public trust will depend on whether complainants can approach the oversight system safely, whether allegations are dealt with within defined timeframes, whether sensitive records are protected and whether findings can lead to meaningful corrective action.

Drafting directions for verification:

1. Define the Secretariat's powers and duties without allowing it to pre-empt independent Panel decisions.
2. Protect appointment integrity, conflict-of-interest management, secure staffing and adequate funding.
3. Provide confidential complaint channels, protection against retaliation, fair hearing rights and documented referral and escalation procedures.
4. Set appropriate rules for legal professional privilege, personal data, record retention and secure disclosure to competent authorities.
5. Require accountable reporting of case volumes, timeliness and outcomes using anonymised information that does not prejudice investigations or privacy.

Exact clause numbers and proposed substitute text must be settled only after reading the official Bill against the permanent NCA governance provisions.