The Scottish Executive is committed into making our justice system more open and accountable, and seem to be more open and accountable

Justice Minister Jim Wallace

The ombudsman, who could investigate the handling of complaints and possibly order new investigations, would be a route of appeal for those who were dissatisfied with how a complaint was handled.

The second option could come in a number of forms, ranging from a body undertaking its own investigations into all complaints, down to a body with more of a supervisory role.

The reforms are designed to counter criticism from human rights groups that forces currently investigate complaints against officers themselves.

However, opposition politicians said the proposed changes do not go far enough.

The reforms are part of the Scottish Executive's response to Sir William Macpherson's report on the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.

Heavy criticism

His report followed an inquiry into the Metropolitan Police's investigation of the murder of the black teenager in London in April 1993.

In response to heavy criticism in Sir William's report, an independent police authority was set up in July 2000 to oversee the Metropolitan force.

However, the introduction of legislation in Scotland appears unlikely before 2003.

Mr Wallace said: "The Scottish Executive is committed into making our justice system more open and accountable, and seem to be more open and accountable.

Sir John Orr: Review call

"On police complaints, that means introducing additional outside scrutiny.

"We believe that only the creation of a new independent body would be enough in the public's eyes.

"This should increase trust in the police and protect individuals in the few cases where the current system fails."

Mr Wallace said the new body had to be transparent, responsive, efficient and effective.

And he added that the procurator fiscal service would keep responsibility for prosecuting and investigating criminal allegations against the police.

Removal of complaints investigation from the hands of the police would be a major step which would require to be justified

Association of Scottish Police Superintendents spokesman

The Scottish Conservatives have already said that the reforms do not go far enough.

They say the system should be fully independent.

Aamer Anwar, who was a member of the justice minister's Stephen Lawrence steering committee, said the move was "long overdue".

But he said he was disappointed that Mr Wallace was "once again 10 steps behind England by still talking of an independent element rather than wholescale reform of the present system".

Mr Anwar - who is also the spokesman for the Chhokar family justice campaign - said the current system was "utterly discredited".

"What Mr Wallace proposes is only a halfway house," he added.

"For real democratic accountability, control of police complaints must be taken away from them just as it will be in England and Wales."

Aamer Anwar: System "utterly discredited"

The Association of Scottish Police Superintendents agreed with Mr Wallace that there was "scope for more transparency and better understanding of the strengths of the present system".

But a spokesman said: "Removal of complaints investigation from the hands of the police would be a major step which would require to be justified in terms of an overwhelming degree of dissatisfaction, as there are significant cost implications and wider ramifications about the quality and standards of investigations.

"This option would appear to be out of proportion to the actual extent of any perceived difficulties with the present system."

Two weeks ago the outgoing chief constable of Strathclyde Police, Sir John Orr, said the police complaints procedure could be handed over to an independent body.

Sir John, who officially retired at the end of June, said that public criticism of the police investigating themselves meant it was time for a review.