18 May 2021

The secretary of the Dyfed Powys branch has welcomed plans for the Federation to have a role in the training of new Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC)  investigators.

Roger Webb said that after years of campaigning it was a positive step in speeding up the timeliness of misconduct investigations and making them fairer for officers involved.

But he said there was still work to do through the Federation’s Time Limits campaign for all investigations to be completed within 12 months.

Roger said: “The involvement of the Federation in training IOPC recruits is a welcome step. It can only have a long-term positive effect on investigations, whether that’s speeding up the process or making the process fairer on our members should they ever come under investigation.

“But there’s still work to do to ensure that all investigations are completed within 12 months, which is what the Federation’s Time Limits campaign pushes for. Lengthy investigations can ruin lives and they’re a drain on public finances.

“We look forward to working with the IOPC to ensure the best outcomes for our members in the future.”

The IOPC recruits will learn about the Police Federation’s conduct and performance liaison officers (CAPLOs) who support members from day one of a complaint and what they will require from them at each stage of an investigation. They will also receive Post-Incident Procedures Level 1 and 2 training accredited by the College of Policing.

Phill Matthews, the Federation’s national conduct and performance chair, will take part in the sessions.

He said: “This is an important and positive first step towards improving the relationship between IOPC investigators and Fed reps which should in turn make the disciplinary system fairer for everyone.

“By breaking down barriers, we can open discussions with its investigators on how our reps operate to not just support officers but also assist their investigations from day one. We want to help them make the process as smooth as possible.”

Phill added: “IOPC investigators now having access to PIP training is very welcome news and is something the Federation has been pressing hard for. All detectives are trained to this standard, so it only seems right that IOPC investigators are also trained to this level or higher.

“Ultimately, all we want is fair investigators with the best possible training, gathering the evidence our members need to either clear themselves, or remove the minority of corrupt individuals from the service, in a timely manner.”