Conduct lead welcomes IOPC training move

19 May 2021

The long-running Time Limits campaign is getting results, says the West Midlands Police Federation conduct lead, after it was announced the Federation will have a role in the training of new Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigators.

George McDonnell said he hopes the move will raise the standards of investigations by the police watchdog and shorten the time it takes to resolve them.

George said: “Through the Federation’s Time Limits campaign we’ve been highlighting the impact of lengthy disciplinary investigations on officers and their families, and the need for them to be concluded within 12 months from the time an allegation is made.

“This is an important issue for our members and it’s great to see the campaigning work of the Federation and our members making a difference.

“This announcement is a welcome first step towards speeding up the time it takes for conduct investigations to be resolved. It will also improve relationships with IOPC investigators, raise standards and restore public trust in the system that their complaints are being dealt with efficiently and effectively.”

The IOPC recruits will learn about the Police Federation’s conduct and performance liaison officers (CAPLOs) who support members from day one of a complaint and what they will require from them at each stage of an investigation. They will also receive Post-Incident Procedures (PIP) Level 1 and 2 training accredited by the College of Policing.

It’s hoped the ‘Meet the Fed’ sessions will lead to smoother relations between officers, their Federation reps and IOPC investigators.

Phill Matthews, the national Federation’s conduct and performance chair, will take part in the sessions.

He said: “This is an important and positive first step towards improving the relationship between IOPC investigators and Fed reps, which should in turn make the disciplinary system fairer for everyone.

“By breaking down barriers, we can open discussions with its investigators on how our reps operate to not just support officers but also assist their investigations from day one. We want to help them make the process as smooth as possible.”

Phill added: “IOPC investigators now having access to PIP training is very welcome news and is something the Federation has been pressing hard for. All detectives are trained to this standard, so it only seems right that IOPC investigators are also trained to this level or higher.

“Ultimately, all we want is fair investigators with the best possible training, gathering the evidence our members need to either clear themselves, or remove the minority of corrupt individuals from the service, in a timely manner.”