A comparative research study of the performance of the Independent Office for Police Conduct with the Metropolitan Police Service.

Abstract

This portfolio reports primary research examining the performance of the Independent Office for Police Conduct compared with the Metropolitan Police Service when dealing with investigations into police misconduct. It includes interviews with key role holders in the Police conduct regime including police and IOPC practitioners to capture experiential knowledge which may explain what may be causing outcome differences.

The Police conduct regime has developed organically throughout the existence of ‘modern’ policing. Over the past 40 years, criticism of police conduct investigations accelerated and led to a position where an organisation was established to bring independence and impartiality to such investigations. There were issues in finding the right model, and today we have a hybrid system where either the police themselves or an independent body (IOPC) investigate misconduct. This research set out to discover whether there was a difference in approach or outcome.

The first research project was quantitative and looked at data from both police and IOPC investigations. These data were analysed to compare timeliness of investigation and outcomes. This showed the IOPC took 50% longer to conclude complaint and conduct investigations, and in findings of guilt the panel’s sanctions resulted in fewer dismissals for subject officers following an IOPC investigation.

The second research project was qualitative and designed to discover why these differences were apparent. It was based on interviews with police decision makers, case handlers, discipline proceedings panel members, Police Federation representatives and staff from the IOPC discussing their experience of the system. These interviews revealed systemic issues such as process design flaws, confusion around independence and emotional conflicts, all of which are barriers to better performance.

Themes through this work relate to the meaning of independence, the value of independence and a potentially unrecoverable breakdown of the relationship between the IOPC and the Police Federation.

This work concludes with recommendations for changes which would address the issues identified and has provided new knowledge to address this important topic. For example, renaming the Independent Office for Police Conduct as the Office for Police Accountability would reduce confusion connected to whether the organisation was truly independent.

Date of Award	2025
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Canterbury Christ Church University