The IOPC is independent and makes its decisions entirely independently of the Police and government - or does it?

Formally known as the IPCC, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is a non-departmental public body which oversees complaints in the England and Wales criminal justice system. The organisation investigates complaints and misconduct matters against the Police, Home Office, HMRC and other government organisations. All 43 Police forces are legally obliged to directly refer some instances of corruption, misconduct, criminal offences, death and injury to the IOPC (IOPC, 2022a). Misconduct is defined under the Police (Conduct) Regulations (2020) as "a breach of the standards of Professional Behaviour that is so serious as to justify disciplinary action". Complaints or conduct issues can include corruption, death or injury and can include 'super complaints' made by public organisations that highlight problems in policing that can affect public confidence. As its name suggests, the IOPC's core aim is to operate "Independently of the police and government" (IOPC, 2022b:6), free from external influence, to make decisions based solely on the evidential aspects of each case. However, the question of the IOPC's true independence endures a complex history and a challenging future.