The IOPC Should Give Up Its Responsibility For Complicated Investigations

The Independent Office for Police Conduct should give up its responsibility for complicated police investigations, South Yorkshire Police Federation has said.

Steve Kent was talking after the police watchdog’s annual report appeared to suggest investigations were conducted in a timely manner – with 83% of cases being closed within 12 months.

The Police Federation has long been calling for the speed of investigations to increase, so that officers’ wellbeing, careers and families aren’t left in limbo.

But the latest figure paints ‘a false picture’ Steve said.

‘Does that address the majority of cases, which are very easy to file? If so – that is great.  But what it doesn’t do is identify the complicated cases that are going on for years and years. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to talk about specific cases, but we do have some in our force. So there absolutely needs to be time limits on the IOPC in terms of their investigations.’

The IOPC beat its 2023/24 target by completing 83% of core investigations within 12 months – an increase from last year’s rate of 75%, according to its recent report.

‘In my view, I don’t believe the IOPC should be investigating, I don’t think they have the resources to investigate, and I don’t necessarily think they’ve got the skillset to do complex investigations. What the IOPC should be, is a supervisory body that oversees professional standards throughout the country and makes sure that they are doing clear, thorough and transparent investigations. That would sit far better with the respective skill sets – and that’s how it should be,’ Steve added.