The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has reported a significant increase in workload, partly attributed to complaints and legal challenges assisted by artificial intelligence. In 2025/26, the watchdog received 3,051 requests to review police complaint outcomes, a rise of 24.3% from the previous year.
Investigators have identified AI-assisted applications through their similar layouts, content, and occasional references to legislation that does not exist in England and Wales. The proportion of upheld requests has fallen from 39.5% in 2022/23 to 26.8% in 2025/26. The IOPC also noted a rise in requests for judicial reviews of its decisions, with at least a quarter of such applications in 2025/26 likely to have involved AI.
IOPC Director General Rachel Watson acknowledged the dual-edged nature of AI-generated complaints, stating that while it may enable people who previously felt unable to engage with the system, it also generates additional work, especially when AI invents non-existent legislation. The watchdog is preparing for major changes in policing, including a potential rise in the threshold for prosecuting police officers for use of force, expected to be announced by the Home Office next month.
The IOPC received a record 7,088 referrals from police forces in 2025/26, the highest since its establishment in 2018. It launched 316 independent investigations, but Watson aims to increase this to 500-600. She also called for an overhaul of the police conduct system, arguing it is not fit for purpose and that many cases could be resolved through internal learning rather than lengthy misconduct hearings.
Watson highlighted the need for greater flexibility to address well-intentioned officers who make mistakes under pressure, allowing for quicker apologies and improvements. She also suggested running misconduct proceedings before criminal trials to save time, describing current processes as 'massively clunky' with excessive paperwork.
