Independent Office for Police Conduct

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is a non-departmental public body in England and Wales which, since 8 January 2018, is responsible for overseeing the system for handling complaints made against police forces in England and Wales.^[1]

Structure

The functions of the Independent Office for Police Conduct were previously undertaken by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), which was established in 2004 and abolished upon the creation of the IOPC.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct originated from the Policing and Crime Act 2017 and unlike its IPCC predecessor, does not have a commission structure and is headed by a Director General, supported by Deputies, Regional Directors and a Director for Wales. The first Director General of the Independent Office for Police Conduct is Michael Lockwood who was the Chief Executive of Harrow London Borough Council.^[1]

New powers

The Policing and Crime Act 2017 has furnished the Independent Office for Police Conduct with new powers which the IPCC did not have:^[1]

• a power to initiate its own investigations without relying on a force to record and refer
• powers to determine appeals and recommend remedies
• a shortened process for deciding whether a case should go to a disciplinary hearing

In April 2017, the IPCC took over responsibility of oversight of complaints in relation to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority and in 2018, the new Independent Office for Police Conduct will, in certain circumstances, take responsibility for oversight of complaints in relation to fire and rescue service personnel.^[1]

References