IOPC in pledge to work with the Federation on timeliness of conduct cases

4 March 2020

A pledge by the police watchdog to work closer with the Federation to improve the timeliness of investigations has been welcomed by West Midlands Police Federation’s conduct lead, George McDonnell.

The pledge is included in a new report by Michael Lockwood, the director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on its efficiency, effectiveness and profile.

George said the director general’s comments were encouraging but the Federation would still continue with its Time Limits campaign which aims to bring in a 12-month time limit on investigations.

“We will, of course, work with Mr Lockwood and his team at the IOPC to maintain and build on our relationship so that we can ensure the best outcomes for Federation members,” says George.

“It is not in the interests of anyone - including the public, the police service, the Force or individual officers – for conduct cases to drag on and on as we have seen in recent years. These long-drawn-out investigations can have a huge impact on the officers involved and their families.

“I am pleased Mr Lockwood has acknowledged some of the IOPC’s investigations have taken too long and that he’s looking to address it. It would certainly be a major step forward for the watchdog to put some emphasis on training investigators, particularly around disclosure, and for all outstanding IPCC legacy cases, and other investigations that have been going on for a considerable time, to be reviewed as soon as possible.”

George added: “We also feel frustrated at the apparent lack of co-operation between the IOPC and our Appropriate Authority around the decision-making for officers being taken to hearings. There are too many cases where our Appropriate Authority does not support the IOPC’s decisions on these and this is another area that needs addressing.”

Mr Lockwood’s report was responding to a letter from Home Secretary Priti Patel asking for a comprehensive plan for delivering improvements in the timeliness and quality of IOPC investigations as well as better scrutiny around any decision-making.

Proposed actions included in the report include:

• A new streamlined investigation process for lower-risk cases, which has helped to reduce the average time it takes to complete investigations.
• Engaging extensively with the Federation and other staff associations to develop a respectful relationship and greater co-operation to action any concerns.
• A multi-disciplinary Critical Case Panel, chaired by the director general, which now oversees particularly complex or high-risk cases to ensure cross-organisational support and assurance that work is properly resourced.
• New opportunities for users to feedback and challenge the IOPC’s work, including the introduction of restorative practice debriefs, which will allow users to discuss any concerns directly with IOPC staff.
• An External Stakeholder Reference Group, consisting of a range of statutory and non-statutory external stakeholders, to challenge and influence work.

Ms Patel, who has requested a further update from Mr Lockwood in May, said: “The vast majority of police perform their duties with the utmost professionalism – and I have been clear they have my full support.

“The progress made by the IOPC on the effectiveness and timeliness of investigations is positive for both officers and the public, but clearly further improvement is required, and I will continue to scrutinise the IOPC’s performance.”

Mr Lockwood said: “This report highlights the significant progress the IOPC is making in our work as we continue to strengthen our impact and make a real difference to policing, operationally, organisationally and culturally.

“Our plans are ambitious, and we are determined to bring about continued further improvements in our own work and across broader policing practice.”