The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is the
reformed police watchdog, previously known as the
Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC).
New leadership under a director general will mean speedier
decision-making with a new board to ensure greater
accountability to the public.
This is the latest step in the Home Office’s reforms to
strengthen the organisation and will lead to new powers.
The new single executive head will ensure clear lines of
accountability and a streamlined decision-making process.
As well as these changes, the Policing and Crime Act 2017
includes further provisions which will increase
the IOPC’s
powers, clarify its investigative processes and further
safeguard its independence. The major reforms were
announced by Prime Minister during her time as Home
Secretary and these powers will allow the IOPC to:
-
initiate its own investigations without relying on a
force to record and refer a particular case for
investigation
-
reopen cases it has closed where there are compelling
reasons, such as new evidence
-
increase the IOPC’s
independence from the police by abolishing ‘managed’
and ‘supervised’ investigations
-
investigate all disciplinary investigations against
chief officers
-
present cases against officers in the police
disciplinary process when the force disagrees with
the IOPC’s
findings
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service said:
We are absolutely determined to make the police
complaints and discipline systems simpler and more
transparent for the benefit of the public. We want
confidence in policing to continue to grow and be
underpinned by the vital role the
reformed IOPC will
play.
Under the leadership of Michael Lockwood and the newly
appointed board, it will provide powerful scrutiny for
policing, with new powers to begin investigations when
they are deemed appropriate and be decisive in concluding
cases.
Director General of the Independent Office of Police
Conduct Michael Lockwood said:
Public confidence in policing is best served by robust
and independent oversight. People need to know that when
things go wrong, or serious allegations are made about
police officers, they will be thoroughly investigated by
a truly independent body. That’s the role of
the IOPC; it’s
crucial work, and I’m proud to be a part of it.
The IOPC, like
the IPCC before
it, will continue to investigate the most serious and
sensitive matters involving the police, including deaths
and serious injuries as well as matters such as allegations
of corruption. It will also oversee the complaints system
in England and Wales and set the standards by which
complaints should be handled by the police.
The Home Office is also pleased to announce the appointment
of new board members Geoffrey Podger as senior independent
director, and Manjit Gill, Catherine Jervis, Mary Lines,
Andrew Harvey and Bill Matthews as non-executive directors.
The non-executive directors will form the majority of the
new board, and provide independent support and challenge to
the director general as well as oversight of the overall
running of the organisation.
