Governance
Our governance arrangements are designed to support effective delivery of our statutory powers and responsibilities, which are set out in the Police Reform Act.
Having good governance in place helps us to achieve our mission: 'Improving policing by independent oversight of police complaints, holding police to account and ensuring learning effects change so that everyone is able to have trust and confidence in the police.'
Unitary Board
Our Unitary Board is responsible for ensuring appropriate arrangements are in place for good governance and financial management of the IOPC. Its main areas of focus are to determine and oversee our strategy and provide support and advice to the Director General (DG) to carry out their responsibilities.
Its membership consists of a crown appointed DG, who is its Chair, six Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) and what are referred to as ‘employee members’. Employee members are some of our most senior staff and report to the DG.
NEDs must be the majority membership of the Board. NEDS are public appointments, who are appointed to serve a term of three years, although this may be extended. They are appointed by the Home Office to serve on our Unitary Board.
- Unitary Board - Terms of reference
Unitary Board and its three committees, set out below, must adhere to our governing documents which include the Standing Orders and the Code of Practice, with the latter setting out how the Director General and the Board work together. All the governance documents are reviewed annually by the Board to ensure they best serve the organisation.
- Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee - Terms of reference
- People and Culture Committee - Terms of reference
- Quality Committee - Terms of reference
To view the Directors Expenses, Gifts and Hospitality Register and the Director's Register of Interests, visit our approach to transparency
- Unitary Board Minutes - February 2024
- Unitary Board Minutes - January 2024
- Unitary Board Minutes - November 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - October 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - September 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - July 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - June 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - April 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - March 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - February 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - January 2023
- Unitary Board Minutes - December 2022
- Special Unitary Board Minutes - December 2022
- Unitary Board Minutes - November 2022
- Unitary Board Minutes - September 2022
- Unitary Board Minutes - July 2022
- Unitary Board Minutes - June 2022
Standing orders - the internal rules about how we conduct our business.
Scheme of Delegation - outlines how the Director General can delegate his statutory powers to members of the IOPC team.
Code of Practice - provides further information about how the Director General and the Board work together.
In July 2018 the IOPC and the Home Office both signed a framework document setting out how we work together
Our service standards
Our service standards set out how we will work with you and what you can expect from us.Our approach to transparency
Find out more about our publication scheme and how we strive to be as open and transparent as possible.Requesting information
You can request information about our work as well as information we may hold about you.Policies
Appraisal Policy - This policy outlines how we meet our statutory obligation as a public record body to select records for permanent preservation under the Public Records Act 1958.
Rentention and Disposal Schedule - This framework outlines how long we retain operational and corporate records and when we dispose of records in line with legislation, regulation and organisational requirements.
Guidance for police witnesses in IOPC investigations
Position statement setting out our expectations of police officers when they make decisions
IOPC policy on reopening investigations - guidance to assist the IOPC in exercising our discretion to reopen an investigation previously carried out by one of our investigators or under our management.
Our position on police use of body-worn video - outlines our view on body-worn video as the use of it expands, and offers practical recommendations to police forces in England and Wales.
Policy on exercising its powers under 28A of the Police Reform Act 2002
Engaging with us on social media - Read our social media terms of use and find out about our use of social media.
Publication policy - Policy on the publication of final investigation reports and report summaries
Policy on naming police officers and staff - This policy sets out when we refer to a police officer or member of staff by his or her name in one of our publications. It describes our usual position at various stages of our work, and the factors that the appropriate decision maker should take into account when deciding whether to depart from this.
IOPC and National Police Chiefs Council media protocol - Describes the roles and responsibilities of the IOPC and police forces in dealing with the media during an investigation. The protocol also sets out our policy on publishing reports, as well as naming officers during independent and managed investigations.
In July 2018 the IOPC and the Home Office both signed a framework document setting out how we work together
A protocol between the IOPC and the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC)
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the IOPC, and HMIC and HMIP - sets out the working arrangements between the IOPC, and HMIC and HMIP in relation to HMIC/HMIP joint inspections of police custody facilities. Provides a framework for joint working between the three organisations, which centres on protecting the human rights of those held in custodial facilities and treating them with decency and respect.
Concordat between the College of Policing, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and the IOPC - sets out how our three organisations will work together to promote improvement and best practice in the police service.
The Charter for Families Bereaved through Public Tragedy is a key recommendation from Bishop James Jones KBE’s review of the Hillsborough families’ experience in 2017.
By signing this Charter, we are making a public commitment to learn the lessons of the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath, so that the perspective of the bereaved families is not lost.