IOPC commits to updating officers on investigation status within three months

The move is intended to reduce the high levels of stress officers can experience during a period of “radio silence” after an inquiry has begun.

IOPC Director-General Michael Lockwood made the commitment during an online meeting with conduct leads from the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and has insisted that his organisation is “working hard” to learn lessons and improve.

He said: “We know that, for police officers and staff involved in our investigations, this can be a time of considerable concern. To reduce this impact, we will introduce a new commitment that, when an investigation is not completed within three months, we will aim to confirm the status of all those involved – whether they are to be considered witnesses or to serve the appropriate misconduct notices.”

He added the IOPC has streamlined its case management data entry and hired specialist report writers.

“This is a great opportunity here to future proof investigations, he said. “If we can do them in two or three months, let’s do them in two or three months – but not at the expense of quality.”

Mr Lockwood said that the IOPC had closed 93 per cent of investigations within 12 months to the end of October 2019.

“We are not at the winning line yet. We need to make improvements which are sustainable by operating quicker, being proportionate and learning best practice from other organisations,” he said. “I am in the process of visiting all forces and I am grateful for the advice already given to me by frontline officers I have spent the time speaking to.”

The IOPC inherited 538 legacy cases from its predecessor, the Independent Police Complaints Commission, which were two years or older but has reduced these to 17 and they “should be cleared by August”.

The IOPC is discussing with the College of Policing to participate in Post Incident Procedures training and has introduced a Quality Committee as well as investigator training to improve the standards of its investigations.

Mr Lockwood identified several thematic areas where he would like to focus on learning. These included mental health issues, domestic abuse, abuse of authority for sexual gain, road traffic incidents and near misses in custody in a bid to improve police practice to reduce the number of incidents in these areas.

The PFEW’s conduct and performance lead Phill Matthews said: “We are encouraged that Mr Lockwood recognises his organisation still has a long journey ahead of it and has plans to continue to change and improve it. There is a willingness to work with us rather than against us to improve the complaints system that will benefit everyone.

“We will continue to hold the IOPC to account where an investigation could have been handled better and push for outcomes for members that are just and proportionate.”