Police referrals to IOPC reach record high
Police forces made a record number of referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) last year, according to newly published figures.
The IOPC received 7,088 referrals during 2025/26 – the highest annual total since the organisation was established in 2018.
The number of independent investigations launched by the IOPC also rose during the year. A total of 316 investigations were opened, an increase of almost a third compared with the previous 12 months.
The cases included allegations of serious misconduct, deaths and serious injuries following police contact, and complaints involving officers and police staff.
IOPC director general Rachel Watson said the figures reflected increasing demand on the organisation and continuing public scrutiny of policing.
She said the IOPC had continued to prioritise the most serious and sensitive cases while working to improve the timeliness and quality of investigations.
The figures come amid continuing debate around police accountability and pressures on the complaints system. A recent government-commissioned review warned that rising referral numbers and financial pressures could affect the proportion of cases independently investigated by the IOPC.
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