IOPC should be made to meet investigation deadlines, demands national Fed

28 January 2021

Sanctions should be in place for the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) if it fails to meet deadlines for investigations the Federation’s national conduct and performance chair said as he gave evidence at a Government inquiry into the role and remit of the police watchdog.

Phill Matthews made his comments as he addressed the Home Affairs Select Committee at the inquiry yesterday and highlighted the impact lengthy conduct investigations had on officers, their families and colleagues.

The Federation is calling for a 12-month cap on investigations, a move welcomed by Humberside Police Federation’s conduct and performance lead Ian Spain.

“There must be some form of teeth because at the moment there is absolutely no incentive for the IOPC, or appropriate authority, to deal with things promptly and properly because they don’t need to,” said Phill.

“If there was an incentive, like there is for police when you must get a case in front of a hearing within a set period, you would invest the time and money to do that.”

To safeguard genuinely delayed cases, the Federation is recommending a Legally Qualified Chair should then be appointed and should have the power to terminate or conduct robust case management to bring cases to swift conclusions, safeguarding the position of complainants and officers.

“The length of time that investigations into officers goes on is damaging for officers, their families, colleagues and complainants,” he explained.

“A delay doesn’t serve complainants or our members at all.”

With a £72 million budget and 1,000 staff, Phill insisted there was no problem with resources in the IOPC but instead, said it was how the money was being used.

Criticising some of the staff at IOPC, Phill said: “We don’t think they have the right depth and breadth of knowledge. We don’t think they have the right training and they are absolutely unaccountable.

“There are some very good people working for the IOPC, but there are others where we see a staggering lack of knowledge.

“You cannot get disclosure from the IOPC and I don’t think they understand it properly,” he added.

When asked whether he wanted to see more retired officers working for the IOPC, he said they work well in PSDs and admitted he would have more confidence in retired officers to deliver.

Phill also highlighted the need for greater transparency and said the organisation is “shrouded in secrecy”, suggesting it needs to be audited in the same way as forces are.

While Phill acknowledged that trust was being built between the police watchdog and Federation, he said that it is the speed of these changes that continues to prove an issue.

“It’s a step in the right direction and its director general, Michael Lockwood, has done a great deal to build trust with the Federation and is trying to reform his organisation but it’s the speed of change we are not content with,” he said.

Phill took the time to praise officers, saying: “They are dealing with some of the most chaotic and dangerous individuals in society - and they are put in confrontational situatins with those individuals.”

His comments were backed by Victor Marshall OBE, professional standards coordinator, who gave evidence on behalf of the Police Superintendents’ Association and said: “The ‘justice delayed, justice denied’ exists across the whole system because we feel for everybody when these things drag on. Obviously, it has an impact on officers, their families, and careers – but absolutely it has an impact on complainants and answers need to be given. The longer these things go on the worse the situation becomes.”

Humberside conduct lead Ian said he is pleased the Federation has been able to call for change at a Government inquiry.

“As a Federation, we know how long IOPC inquiries take their toll on officers. It is time for there to be time limits on these investigations – in the interests of the officers, their families and complainants. Let’s just hope the MPs on this inquiry take on board what we are telling them and ensure that the IOPC changes its practices.

“Officers appreciate when they join the Force that their actions will come under scrutiny, that is understandable. They also know conduct investigations have to be thorough and efficient. But they should also be proportionate, not overly protracted and timely. Officers and their families paying an incredible price in terms of their wellbeing, mentally and physically, when they are not.”