Introduction from Michael Lockwood, Director General
Welcome to our latest issue of Roundup.
Three years since we were established, we have made significant progress in addressing many of the issues that stakeholders and the community raised with us at our first series of roundtable discussions.
Since becoming the IOPC, we have completed over 1,350 investigations and 91% of core investigations are now complete within 12 months. In the 2020/21 financial year we completed 86% of core and major investigations within 12 months, compared to 68% three years ago. Of the 538 investigations inherited from the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), only three investigations remain, and these are near to completion. You can read more on this in our end-of-year performance information below.
We have a really important role in maintaining public confidence in policing, which we do through our oversight of the complaints system and importantly, our investigations. When police do not uphold the professional standards expected of them, it is important there is scrutiny and accountability.
As a result of our investigations, and as you can see from our news releases, we have seen police officers dismissed and appear before the courts on criminal charges.
However, police officers sometimes make mistakes and it is important that they learn from them. To date we have made over 400 learning recommendations, improving policing practice in important areas, such as stop and search, roads policing, and police custody. Prevention is better than cure. Last month we published learning recommendations on abuse of power for sexual purpose and the detention of young people in custody. We also wrote to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) to express concerns about police sharing inappropriate content on social media as a result of our investigations and asking for their support to prevent this in the future.
I am pleased to confirm our stakeholders feel our work is making a difference. We are making good progress in improving the confidence of young people and those from black and ethnic minority backgrounds in the police complaints system through our work with young people to understand their rights. Our work on stop and search, Taser and race discrimination are focussing on the areas that are important to black and ethnic minority communities.
It’s an exciting time to be part of the IOPC as we grow and develop and importantly, seeing how our work continues to make a real difference to the communities we serve.
Michael Lockwood
Director General
Hillsborough trial underway
Our Hillsborough investigation has reached an important milestone with the trial now underway of three defendants charged with perverting the course of justice: Peter Metcalf, the solicitor acting for South Yorkshire Police in 1989, former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton, and former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster. The trial is a direct result of our investigation into the actions of South Yorkshire Police following the disaster and centres on the alleged amendment of witness accounts by police officers.
Stop and search research shows the public feel confident that police respond to incidents fairly, but questions remain
We published the findings of a national survey we commissioned last year of adults across England and Wales. These show that most people (72%) believe the UK police respond in a fair and proportionate way when dealing with the public on incidents. In addition, 80% of those surveyed think stop and search is necessary. However, nearly half (49%) of those surveyed think stop and search is either not applied as it should be or is unnecessary.
IOPC welcomes report seeking to address disproportionate use of stop and search
We welcomed a report published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) that reflects our own concerns over the police’s use of stop and search powers and use of force against Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) people.
The disproportionate use of these powers within certain communities has long been a cause for concern and the report further reinforces the need for real and much needed change in order to improve public confidence in policing.
We raised the same concerns last year and in July announced the start of work with an increased focus on investigations involving race discrimination to identify the trends and patterns that might help drive the meaningful changes needed.
Statements in response to evidence to Home Affairs Committee
In response to evidence given by Lady Brittan at the Home Affairs Committee in March, we released a statement about our investigation into the police handling of allegations of historical child abuse made by Carl Beech. We have also written to Sir Richard Henriques to answer some of his questions about this investigation and we will publish this response on our website shortly.
IOPC senior leaders meet with Le Défenseur des droits
Director-General Michael Lockwood met with the French Parliament last year to talk about our work. This year, he and our Hillsborough Investigation Decision-Maker Sarah Green were invited to meet the head of our equivalent body in France, Le Défenseur des droits. They talked about our respective challenges and approach to work. Le Défenseur were particularly interested in our independent role and the benefits and challenges that it brings. Michael highlighted the work we are doing on learning, timeliness and with communities. We plan to stay in touch to share our progress.
Helping improve policing practice
The complaints and investigations we work on provide useful insights and learning that can inform policy, practice and processes. This is important in helping to reduce the risk of events recurring, in protecting people from harm or in better supporting police in their work at a local or national level. Some examples of learning from our recent work includes:
Force accepts recommendation to stop making multi-cell observation records in individual detainee custody records
Suffolk Constabulary has fully adopted and adhered to our recommendation that the practice of making multi-cell observation records in individual detainee custody records should be stopped.
This follows a case where custody records existed from a period when a detainee was no longer at the custody suite because he had been taken to hospital. It was clear that the observation records had been copied across numerous detainee records and were factually incorrect.
Investigation leads to recommendation around appropriate training and support
Following an investigation into the failure to progress two criminal investigations conducted by a detective in Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s Paedophile Online Investigation Team, Cambridgeshire Constabulary accepted three IOPC recommendations.
We recommended that the force put in place sufficient training and support for sergeants to enable them to manage performance effectively. We also recommended that detectives working in the Paedophile Online Investigation Team are assigned a workload appropriate to their circumstances, and that Cambridgeshire Constabulary takes steps to ensure that sufficient wellbeing and welfare support is available.
Investigation reinforces that use of personal social media accounts to contact people met through work is not acceptable
We investigated a complaint about a Greater Manchester Police Community Support Officer's contact with a 12/13 year-old girl via social media. Our findings raised a number of learning points about the use of personal social media when contacting members of the public.
We also found that the Standards of Professional Behaviour for police staff did not provide clear expectations on abuse of position for sexual purposes. This led us to recommend that the Police Staff Council strengthen these standards to make them more explicit.
Forces to review domestic abuse policies to ensure clear guidance on responding to threats of suicide
We recommended that both Kent and Humberside Police review their domestic abuse policies to include clear guidance for officers who are informed by a victim that their partner has made threats of suicide. The revisions should set out how officers ensure that the risk is clearly identifiable to those involved in the investigation. This will facilitate appropriate risk assessments, and consideration of any safeguarding requirements.
Our recommendations follow two separate domestic incidents where victims reported that their partners had often threatened to take their own lives and had gone on to do so.
National learning recommendation accepted in relation to intelligence used in firearms operations
A national learning recommendation to ensure that out-of-date information and intelligence is not used as part of firearms operations was accepted by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC).
The recommendation follows our investigation into the fatal shooting of Anthony Grainger in Culcheth in 2012.
Investigations following deaths, serious injuries and police use of force
Police forces must refer to us all deaths or serious injuries that happen during or following police contact. Investigating these matters is one of our key functions.
Officer found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving
A North Yorkshire Police officer has been found guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and given a suspended sentence. We investigated following an incident in May 2018, when the officer was driving an unmarked police car in Harrogate.
Officer found guilty of battery of a child and given community order
A Thames Valley Police officer has been found guilty of the battery of a child and given a community order to do 200 hours of unpaid work, following our investigation. Luton Magistrates’ Court heard that the police officer struck the child on the face and then removed clothing, leaving him naked until a detention officer came into the cell to assist him.
Non-fatal police shooting during robbery was proportionate
Our investigation has found that the non-fatal shooting of a man by Wiltshire Police during a robbery in Swindon in June last year was necessary and proportionate.
Armed officers from Wiltshire Police attended the robbery after a report that a man was carrying a handgun. During the incident the man fired his weapon, hitting an officer in the face with a ball bearing. After the man raised his weapon, the other officer fired a single shot, which struck the man in the thigh. Officers immediately provided first aid before paramedics arrived.
Investigation underway following man’s death after contact with officers
We are independently investigating the death of a man following police contact in Newport on February 2021. A man was sadly was pronounced dead in hospital after arriving there by ambulance. After being notified by Gwent Police, we sent investigators to the property and to the post-incident procedures. The officers involved have provided their initial accounts of their interaction with the man.
Police acted appropriately before double fatal car crash
Our investigation following a fatal car crash in London found that officers from the Metropolitan Police Service acted appropriately when they pursued a car that failed to stop when requested. A man and a woman were killed. An inquest at West London Coroner's Court returned a finding of death by misadventure for the man and death by road traffic collision for the woman.
Investigation into police use of force during arrest
We are conducting an investigation into the use of force by a West Midlands Police officer during the arrest of a man in Wolverhampton. The force voluntarily referred a complaint about the incident to us.
Referral made to CPS following investigation into Taser incident
We have referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to consider charges against a Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) officer. The referral relates to the use of a Taser during an incident in Haringey, north London. The incident led to a man in his 20s being taken to hospital where he was assessed as having life-changing injuries. Our investigation followed a mandatory referral from the MPS.
Read more about our work on police use of force on our website.
Investigations into other serious and sensitive matters
Former special constable barred from police work following investigation
A former Greater Manchester Police special constable who contacted a 14-year-old girl on Snapchat has been placed on the police barred list. A disciplinary panel found gross misconduct against the officer. The ruling follows our investigation into a complaint from the girl’s father, who reported the officer sent messages to his daughter after encountering her and her friends on an anti-social behaviour patrol.
Former officer guilty of gross misconduct
The outcome follows an investigation carried out by the force under the direction of the IOPC. A disciplinary hearing found that the officer would have been dismissed had he still been serving. He was placed on a list barring him from future employment within the police service.
West Midlands Police officer dismissed after forming inappropriate relationship
Following our investigation, a disciplinary hearing was told that a West Midlands Police officer had formed an inappropriate relationship with a vulnerable woman he met on duty. The gross misconduct hearing, organised by West Midlands Police, found the allegations against the officer proven and he was dismissed without notice.
Devon and Cornwall Police officers dismissed over statements following man’s arrest
Two Devon and Cornwall Police officers were dismissed after a disciplinary panel found they made statements containing false information. The officers arrested a man who was subsequently found guilty of being drunk and disorderly. The man successfully appealed his conviction after producing mobile phone footage of the arrest, which contradicted the officers’ statements.
Essex Police officer charged with computer misuse offences
An Essex Police officer will appear in court charged with an offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990. It is alleged the officer used the police computer system to access records for which he had no legitimate policing purpose. Our investigation began in October 2019 and was completed in April 2020. We referred a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service, which then decided to charge the officer.
Our Stakeholder Engagement team had a busy quarter and despite the challenges of lockdown, participated in over 80 online meetings with a range of different stakeholders. These meetings focused on areas of grave public concern such as stop and search, discrimination, use of force, use of restraint, sexual harassment, the effects of the pandemic, and misuse of alcohol and drugs.
We met and talked with hundreds of stakeholders across England and Wales. These included youth groups, university students, Independent Advisory Groups, stop and search monitoring groups, faith organisations, Black and minority ethnic groups, violence reduction units, Members of Parliament, equality councils, local councillors, police forces, and staff from the offices of police and crime commissioners.
Talking with communities about incidents of public concern
Where there is a critical incident or confidence in policing is very damaged, we work proactively with communities to keep them informed about our work and reassure them about our independence. We do this by setting up Community Reference Groups made up of local people, charities, advocacy groups, policing stakeholders and local authority leads.
In March 2021 we held our final Community Reference Group meeting in relation to the life-changing injuries incurred by a young man in London following the use of Taser by MPS officers.
Since May 2020 when the incident occurred, we hosted a series of meetings to inform the community about our work and keep them abreast of our progress. We listened to concerns, provided people with clear information about how the investigation was undertaken and kept the stakeholders informed of any issues along the way.
This Community Reference Group helped us to build positive and strong relationships in Haringey, where community members previously had low confidence and little understanding of our work. By continuing the dialogue with stakeholders, we were able to raise awareness of how we investigate cases and demonstrate openness and transparency. At the last meeting, a stakeholder expressed that we had “exceeded their expectations during the course of this investigation”.
We also hosted Community Reference Group meetings in Wales in relation to the death of Mohamud Mohamed Hassan and Moyied Bashir. Meeting with these groups, listening to their concerns and being transparent about our work to investigate these incidents is helping to address community tensions. We will continue to meet as our investigations progress.
Talking with stakeholders about our work
We continued our regular meetings to inform stakeholders about our work, providing an opportunity for them to hold us to account and encourage constructive challenge.
- The Wales Stakeholder Forum focused on race discrimination and we presented two case studies for discussion to support learning on best practice.
- We hosted a national Police Officer and Staff Association meeting to discuss our operational performance and strategic updates, including our work to tackle discrimination.
- Our External Stakeholder Reference Group meeting provided the opportunity to share views on how the legislative changes introduced in February 2020 have worked in practice. We also sought feedback on what we’ve achieved as an organisation and our strategic plan for the next three years. This feedback, together with stakeholder insights on our website and social media presence, will help to shape our future work.
Webinar for Victim Support staff
Over 130 frontline caseworkers from the charity Victim Support attended our IOPC webinar last month. These caseworkers directly support members of the public who use the police complaints system. We wanted to increase their awareness of the system, explain our role and remit, and give them a greater understanding of what we do. We shared both practical and interactive content, including a section on busting popular myths about police complaints. Feedback was very positive, with one caseworker saying:
"I feel more able to explain the complaints process to service users. I feel comfortable in the knowledge that we are able to advocate on their behalf too. This was something I wasn't aware we were able to do."
Learning the Lesson issue 38 on roads policing
Our latest issue of Learning the Lessons focuses on learning from road policing incidents such as pursuits, authorisation from control rooms and the use of life hammers.
The magazine includes contributions from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services and the charity Brake, as well information on the work of our roads policing subject matter network.
We will publish the next edition, focused on child sexual abuse, shortly.
Information on our victims’ right to review scheme published
We have published a leaflet containing information on our victims’ right to review (VRR) scheme. The VRR scheme was created in response to feedback from victims. It brings us in line with similar schemes operated by the CPS and police forces.
The scheme applies to most of our independent and managed/directed investigations where we find an indication that a criminal offence may have been committed. At the end of these investigations, a decision-maker decides whether a case should be referred to the CPS to determine if a prosecution should follow. In cases where no referral is made, under the VRR scheme, victims can request a review of the decision by a new decision-maker who had no involvement in the original decision.
Investigation summaries published in January, February and March 2021
In the last quarter we published summaries of 23 independent investigations closed recently. They covered the use of force during arrests (including the use of Tasers), discrimination, deaths and serious injuries in custody, how forces responded to reports of missing persons and concerns for vulnerable people.
Investigations started and completed
View the data in the Investigations started and completed in January to March 2021 as a CSV file.
We continue to focus effort on closing older cases, which has had an impact on our recent performance data.
This investigations data is taken from a live case management system and therefore may differ from previously published data.
Percentages have been rounded up and so may not total 100%
Reviews
The right of review applies to complaints received from 1 February 2020.
* This figure may change as a result of data being recorded after the figures are collated.
**The % of upheld reviews is worked out from the number of reviews upheld over the total number of valid reviews completed
View the data in the Reviews in January to March 2021 as a CSV file.
Appeals
*This figure may change as a result of data being recorded after the figures are collated.
The % of upheld appeals is worked out from the number of appeals upheld over the total number of valid appeals completed.
View the data in the Appeals in January to March 2021 as a CSV file.
Find out how we are performing against our targets.
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