The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) is handling cases despite being wracked by resignations in June, Labour and Home Affairs Minister Terry Lister said.

Mr. Lister was responding to Opposition claims in the House of Assembly last week that a backlog of 200 outstanding complaints has built up over the past two years. He said the PCA - a civilian panel established in 1998 to hear complaints against Police officers - had completed 85 cases over that time period.

"That sounds like a lot of cases to me," Mr. Lister said, making his first public comment following the resignations of PCA chairman Coles Diel and deputy chairman Alan Dunch last month.

Mr. Diel told The Royal Gazette that he resigned due to frustration over the PCA's lack of effectiveness and fear the organisation could not prevent Police whitewashing of investigations despite its independence. Both Mr. Diel and Mr. Dunch were also disappointed that legislative reform hoped to improve the body's workings did not materialise.