Fed giving evidence at IOPC inquiry

27 January 2021

The Federation says it has the evidence it needs as it prepares to call for the introduction of a limit on disciplinary investigations against officers at a Government inquiry into the role and remit of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) today (27 January).

Ahead of giving evidence to the Home Affairs Select Committee this morning, Federation conduct and performance chair Phill Matthews has outlined what the Federation will be asking for in a blog posted on the Federation’s website.

He says they have built up enough evidence to prove to MPs that this issue is real, as they call for a change in law to introduce a 12-month time limit on disciplinary investigations against officers.

“By building up enough evidence to show the damaging, and often long-lasting, impact of investigations which have dragged on for an unacceptable amount of time, we can prove to MPs this issue is very real and something must be done because enough is enough. We now have that evidence,” he added.

“An officer stops a motorist for driving dangerously – the legal clock starts counting down from six months. Six months to gather the evidence they need to get the case to court. But if the motorist complained about the officer there’s absolutely no limit to how long it can take for that complaint to work its way through the system. Surely that’s got to be wrong.”

Phill will be appearing via Zoom to give evidence today.