Referrals to the police watchdog in England and Wales have reached a record high, according to new figures released by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). Data for 2025-2026 shows that 7,088 cases were referred to the IOPC, the highest annual total since the body was established.
The IOPC initiated 316 independent investigations during the same period, a 31% increase on the previous year. These included 134 probes into alleged police misconduct, 81 concerning deaths or serious injuries following police contact, and 101 stemming from public complaints. The watchdog concluded 245 independent investigations, consistent with the previous year.
IOPC deputy director general Steve Noonan said the organisation is processing referrals more quickly, with an average assessment time of 4.3 days, down from over eight days previously. He attributed the improvement to efficiency gains in the case management system and more intrusive triage of referrals. However, he noted that the IOPC would like to take on more cases if resources allowed.
The figures also reveal that the IOPC received 3,051 requests to independently review complaint outcomes, a 24.3% increase on the previous year. The team completed 3,500 reviews, up 61% on the previous year, following changes to how appeals are handled. Mr Noonan acknowledged that more work is needed on the timeliness of investigations but said improvements are being seen through a transformation programme.
