Home Secretary's letter to Michael Lockwood: improving public confidence in the IOPC
Published 28 February 2020
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Home Secretary
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
www.gov.uk/home-office
Michael Lockwood
Director General IOPC
10 South Colonnade
Canary Wharf
London
E14 4PU
3 February 2020
Dear Michael,
Public confidence in the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)
As I set out in my letter to you of 16 October 2019, the role of the IOPC is of great importance and more needs to be done to ensure that the organisation commands the confidence of the public and the police.
Thank you for your letter of 18 December 2019 in response and for your accompanying report setting out work in hand and your plans for improvement.
I am encouraged by the progress that the IOPC has made under your leadership to improve capacity and the timeliness of investigations and, in particular, I am pleased with the efforts that have been made to clear cases that opened prior to 2018. Lengthy delays have a corrosive effect on the confidence of the public and the morale of the police workforce – and, so, I welcome the commitment to clear all such ‘legacy’ cases by August 2020.
I also welcome your efforts to develop the professionalism of the IOPC, the increased emphasis on learning and engagement with partners. These efforts have had a positive effect – and this is demonstrated by the feedback you have received from stakeholders, showing progress towards building greater credibility.
I note your proposals for improving quality assurance and for clearer mechanisms for those who are unhappy with the IOPC’s decision to challenge them.
I would very much like to see further details on these proposals - and on these, and on other areas, some further thinking on how you will measure success and demonstrate that to the public. I would like you to work with my officials on this and respond to me by the end of May.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you and your officials for your help in developing and delivering the reforms to the police complaints and discipline systems that came into force on 1 February. These reforms will make the systems simpler and more proportionate – and the IOPC will play a central role in ensuring that these benefits are realised for the public and police.
A copy of this letter and your report will be published on the GOV.UK website. I look forward to receiving your update in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Rt Hon Priti Patel MP.