Improvement to IOPC investigations still making slow progress

THE Independent Office of Police Conduct is still making “slow progress” in improving the timeliness of investigations, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.

Steve Kent was speaking after it emerged that protracted misconduct investigations was costing the taxpayer millions.

Earlier this month, the Police Federation of England and Wales revealed that an investigation lasting up to six months costs £15,101 per officer – which rockets to £302,012 when it drags on for five years or more, 20 times higher.

Steve said: “There is a serious concern about the cost to taxpayers and the amount of time that investigations take. The simple fact of the matter is that complex investigations for the IOPC is going to mean that it takes a long, long time because, they don’t necessarily always have the expertise to deal with these very complex and potentially serious issues.

“Our regional IOPC have been keen to say that the time limits are improving. But for me, my view still remains unchanged. They need to leave complex investigations to the professionals, which has to be professional standards departments in police forces who are full of highly trained detective officers for who this is their bread and butter.

“They are just as motivated as anybody to root out corrupt officers. It should be left with them. The IOPC should and must to be involved of course, but they should be working with them, supervising them rather than actually running the investigations themselves.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales took the matter to the Home Affairs Select Committee in January, as part of their Time Limits campaign.

The Federation has called for improvements to the quality of IOPC investigator training, particularly in relation to post incident procedures and disclosure and for the Government  to consider the idea of moving towards a system where breaching the time limit has consequences on the ability to proceed.