Dr Gillian Fairfield to lead independent review of the IOPC
The Home Secretary has appointed Dr Gillian Fairfield, chair of the Disclosure and Barring Service, to lead a review into the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The independent review forms part of the wider Cabinet Office Public Bodies Review Programme and will consider the IOPC’s efficacy, efficiency, governance and accountability.
It will make recommendations to ministers on future delivery arrangements and efficiency savings.
In particular, the review will consider:
- The extent to which the IOPC and its Director General delivers its statutory functions, including the requirement to establish and maintain public confidence in the police complaints system and the handling of its functions in relation to the investigation of complaints, and conduct matters and deaths and serious injuries involving the police; and
- Whether the investigation process is effective and how it may be improved
The Home Office said the review will “draw on data and evidence objectively, including through consultation with wider stakeholders, representative bodies and the Welsh government, as well as the IOPC’s management and staff”.
The review’s report and recommendations will be submitted to the Home Secretary in the autumn.
Dr Fairfield will be supported by a team drawn from within the Home Office.
The Home Office said: “The IOPC is an executive non-departmental public body responsible for overseeing the police complaints system in England and Wales. It investigates the most serious matters and allegations against the police and other law enforcement bodies, including deaths and serious injuries following police contact, and sets the standards by which the police should handle complaints.
“It also carries out reviews of complaints investigated by the police and has powers to make learning recommendations and issue statutory guidance.
“It is operationally independent of the Government and the police.”
A summary of the review’s terms of reference can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-independent-office-for-police-conduct/independent-review-of-the-independent-office-for-police-conduct-iopc-summary-of-terms-of-reference