Independent Office for Police Conduct investigations that drag on for years are costing the taxpayer millions

3 February 2021

Independent Office for Police Conduct investigations that drag on for years are costing the taxpayer millions of pounds, a figure that Kent Police Federation has said is “staggering”.

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has estimated that an IOPC investigation that lasts up to six months costs £15,101 per officer, which goes up to £302,012 when it continues for five years or more – 20 times the amount.

The costs are even higher for suspended officers, where a six-to-12-month investigation costs approximately £67,968, and after five years it is an eye-watering £453,115 per officer. This is due to forces having to replace officers while they are suspended.

Chairman of Kent Police Federation Neil Mennie said: “The implications of lengthy investigations for the officers involved are physically and mentally apparent to the Federation representatives looking after them.

“It’s very frustrating and upsetting for officers and their families, and for us as well. Now we see another dimension in the actual monetary cost of these investigations, which is staggering.

“It’s fair to say the quicker it’s dealt with the cheaper it will be, and is another sound reason to limit the length of investigations by mandate, not toothless aspiration.”

The findings have been shared with MPs on the Home Affairs Select Committee as part of its inquiry into the IOPC and the time taken to resolve complaints against police officers.

The PFEW continues its Time Limits campaign, which launched in 2019 and pushes for investigations to be concluded within a year, highlighting the impact of long investigations on police officers, their families and colleagues, as well as public trust in policing.