About our investigations

Police officers and staff are expected to uphold the highest standards of professional behaviour in their duties. These standards are defined in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2012 and Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020, which apply to all police officers and special constables. Equivalent standards for police staff are set out in local policies.

Allegations of misconduct may arise from:

complaints made by members of the public
concerns raised internally within a police force

Forces are legally required to refer certain matters to us — for example, any death or serious injury (DSI) following contact with the police. When we receive a referral, we assess whether the matter should be:

investigated by the IOPC, or
referred back to the police force for local investigation

Our investigations are independent and evidence-based. We assess all available information to determine whether there is a case to answer for misconduct or gross misconduct or if someone’s performance was unsatisfactory.

At the end of an investigation, we produce a final report that analyses and summarises the evidence. This is accompanied by a decision maker’s opinion document, which sets out our view on conduct, performance, or learning.

We send these documents to the appropriate authority and seek their views on whether there is a case to answer. If the force disagrees with our assessment, the next steps depend on the legislation in force. Under current legislation, the force may disagree, but the IOPC makes the final decision on whether there is a case to answer. The appropriate authority must comply with this decision.

If our investigation identifies misconduct or gross misconduct, a misconduct meeting or hearing will be arranged. You can read more about this process on page 8.

In cases involving a death, the coroner considers the evidence we provide during the inquest.

If our investigation indicates that a crime may have been committed, we refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The CPS decides whether the evidence meets the threshold for legal proceedings. If charges are brought, the courts determine whether the person is guilty of a criminal offence.

A vital part of our work is identifying the underlying causes of incidents and recommending ways to prevent them in future. Our recommendations may relate to:

training
policy and practice
supervision
safety improvements

Our Impact Report highlights how our work contributes to improvements in policing and helps reduce future risks. You can read summaries of our investigations and details of our recommendations on our website: www.policeconduct.gov.uk