OFFICER health and wellbeing in South Yorkshire is being adversely affected by delays in resolving IOPC cases.<\/p>\n
And some Federation members have had to wait over three years for complaints against them to be concluded, placing enormous strain on their work and home lives, says South Yorkshire Federation Chair Zuleika Payne.<\/p>\n
In its latest Annual Report, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, formerly the Independent Police Complaints Commission, acknowledged that cases were completed, on average, in 239 working days.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s up from 226 days in 2015\/16, although the body says that represents an average improvement of three months compared to 2014\/15.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe delays mean it\u2019s the \u2018not-knowing\u2019 which is affecting officers,\u201d says Zuleika.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s wholly unacceptable not just for the officers going through the process but also the members of the public who are lodging complaints.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe amount of time taken to resolve matters does not bode well for either side, does it?\u201d<\/p>\n
The IOPC has admitted its recent growth has impacted on the \u2018number and skill\u2019 of frontline investigation staff.<\/p>\n
Chair Dame Anne Owers wrote in its annual report that it was in the last year of its three-year development plan and that there had been \u2018challenges\u2019 from growing so fast.<\/p>\n
She\u2019s convinced that the organisation can improve.<\/p>\n
Zuleika says there has to be improvement in order to inspire greater confidence in the IOPC.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately the length of time it takes to resolve complaints can seem, in some cases, disproportionate, especially when you consider how expeditious officers have to be when dealing with members of the public.<\/p>\n
“Some officers are being criticised for time it takes to complete an investigation, so it seems ironic that the IOPC can take an inordinate amount of time communicating and dealing with the officers concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n