The IOPC Explained

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is the independent body responsible for overseeing the police complaints system in England and Wales. It was established by the Policing and Crime Act 2017, replacing the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), and began operating in January 2018. The IOPC is a non-departmental public body accountable to Parliament, and its role is to ensure that complaints about police are handled fairly, transparently, and independently. It does not investigate all complaints, but sets standards and investigates the most serious matters itself.

The IOPC's functions include: independently investigating the most serious cases, including deaths and serious injuries following police contact; managing investigations where the public interest requires independent oversight; reviewing complaints that have been locally handled by forces and where the complainant is dissatisfied; and setting standards for the handling of complaints across the country. The IOPC also publishes learning reports and makes recommendations to forces and to the government about improvements to policing practice.

Not all serious incidents automatically trigger an IOPC investigation. Forces are required to refer certain categories of incident to the IOPC as soon as practicable after they become aware of them. Mandatory referral categories include: deaths or serious injuries arising from police contact; serious assaults allegedly committed by police officers; alleged corruption involving senior officers; and matters that the Director General determines are of public interest. Beyond mandatory referrals, forces may voluntarily refer cases, and individuals may apply to the IOPC for a review if they are unhappy with how their complaint has been handled.

The IOPC operates with investigative independence from the police service. Its investigators are not police officers, and it has powers to compel the production of documents and to direct that records be preserved. The IOPC may recommend or direct that misconduct proceedings be brought against an officer, and it may appeal decisions made at misconduct hearings. The IOPC does not have the power to prosecute, but it may refer matters to the Crown Prosecution Service where there is evidence of a criminal offence.

Updated 16 October 2026: from 29 October 2026 the first condition for notifying the Director of Public Prosecutions of an investigation report is that the report indicates there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction for a criminal offence, and an accelerated procedure applies in special cases of criminal conduct (Crime and Policing Act 2026, ss.197 and 198, commenced by SI 2026/960, reg 5).