Advocate Geoff Karran MBE has been appointed Police Complaints Commissioner by the Lieutenant Governor, His Excellency Vice Admiral Sir Paul Haddacks KCB.
Mr Karran (pictured) will be responsible for overseeing the investigation of all complaints made in respect of the Isle of Man Constabulary.
Welcoming Mr Karran to the post, Home Affairs Minister Adrian Earnshaw MHK said ‘Geoff Karran is a highly respected and experienced advocate who is involved in many aspects of the local community. He has taken on the role of Deputy Police Complaints Commissioner for the last year and is the obvious choice to be appointed on a more permanent basis.’
Mr Karran, who was appointed Deputy Police Complaints Commissioner in March 2008, will hold the position of Police Complaints Commissioner for one year with the possibility of continuing in the role when it is reviewed in March 2010.
He commented ‘It is an extremely important position because it gives a person disaffected with the action of a police officer the opportunity to make a complaint. The way the regulations are formulated, I then supervise the proper investigation of that complaint by a senior police officer, and, following receipt of that officer’s report, I am able to make my own report and recommendations to the Chief Constable on the complaint.’
Mr Karran, who received the MBE in the New Year’s Honours Awards in December 2008, is well known in the Island for supporting numerous local charities and sporting organisations. He served as vice chairman of the Isle of Man Sports Council from 1996, then chairman from 2002 to date.
Amongst his charity work, Mr Karran chairs the Manx Gateway Club and Project 21. He acts as honorary legal adviser to several charities and sporting organisations and recently stood down after more than thirty years as honorary legal adviser and executive committee member of the International Island Games Association.
From 2002-2005 he was president of the Manx Motor Cycle Club – organisers of the TT and Manx Grand Prix – and is now a vice president after many years’ involvement as chairman and vice chairman. He was presented with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards in December 2007.
