Consultation draft of the statutory guidance

Download the consultation draft of the statutory guidance, as well as a table outlining the detail and reasons for the changes made.

We have a statutory duty to secure and maintain public confidence in the police complaints system in England and Wales and to ensure that it is efficient and effective. The statutory guidance is one of the ways in which the IOPC assists the police service and local policing bodies to achieve high standards in the handling of complaints, conduct matters, and death and serious injury matters, and to comply with their legal obligations. The guidance is designed for practitioners dealing with complaints, conduct matters, and death and serious injury matters rather than members of the public.

The current version of the statutory guidance was published in 2020 to align with the substantial changes made to the police complaints and discipline systems as a result of the Policing and Crime Act 2017. Since 2024 there have been a number of legislative changes designed to further improve the efficiency of, and public confidence in, the police complaints and discipline systems.  

The revisions we have made to the statutory guidance reflect those changes and provide additional guidance or clarification in some areas to further assist practitioners. Please note, the revisions do not include any of the provisions in the Public Office (Accountability) Bill. If any changes are required, there will be a further consultation.

We would like to hear directly from those who handle complaints, conduct matters and death and serious injury matters. We would also like to hear from those who can offer a service user perspective, including those who have experience of supporting complainants and others involved in the police complaints system. 

We would appreciate your views on whether the revised sections of the guidance: 

• help practitioners understand the legislation. For example, 
• are they clear? 
• is the right level of detail included? 
• support the changes intended by the reforms 

We are not consulting on: 

• the existing guidance 
• the legislation underpinning the revisions 

Responses do not have to address every revision. We are grateful for any insight or comments you have on the changes made. Responses can be sent to [email protected] or by post to Independent Office for Police Conduct, PO Box 473, Sale, M33 0BW. If you have any questions please get in touch. 

All responses will be considered when producing the final version of the guidance. Following the closure of the consultation we will produce a report outlining the actions taken in response to the feedback.