We oversee the police complaints system in England and Wales, and investigate the most serious matters relating to police conduct. We also share our learning to improve police practices so that everyone can have trust and confidence in policing.
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We are the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the police complaints watchdog that oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales. We investigate the most serious matters, including deaths following police contact and we set the standards by which the police should handle complaints.
We are independent, which means that our decisions are made entirely independently of the police and government. Our vision is for everyone to be able to have trust and confidence in policing.
To achieve this, we use our learning and recommendations from our work to promote high standards of professionalism and accountability in policing. Our evidence-based approach drives improvements in policing practices, for the benefit of the public and the police.
Our mission is improving policing by independent oversight of police complaints, hold police to account and ensure learning effects change
Our mission, to improve public confidence in policing, means putting people of different backgrounds, cultures and experiences at the heart of all we do.
Whilst most complaints are handled by the relevant police force, we only independently investigate the most serious and sensitive matters. Find out more in our guide to the complaints process.
Want to boost the public’s confidence in the police complaints system? Join us and you’ll be involved in some of the most challenging and rewarding work you’ve encountered.