Category Archives: Independent Office for Police Conduct

Watchdogs condemn police response to domestic abuse claims against officers

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Joint inquiry hears evidence of officers in England and Wales using their status to deter victims from making reports

Police forces in England and Wales are responding to reports of their own officers committing domestic abuse in a way that is “significantly harming the public interest”, with just 9% of such allegations leading to criminal charges, a joint watchdog investigation has found.

The College of Policing, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services and the Independent Office for Police Conduct heard evidence of police perpetrators of domestic abuse using their knowledge, status and powers to intimidate victims and deter them from making reports.

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Family of man who died in Taser incident call for inquiry into Met to be widened

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Family of Oladeji Omishore allege police failed to correct reports he was armed with screwdriver

The family of a man who died after falling into the Thames after police repeatedly fired a Taser at him have called for an investigation into alleged misinformation put out by Scotland Yard.

Oladeji Omishore, 41, clashed with officers on Chelsea Bridge, west London, just after 9am on Saturday 4 June. The Met said they were called to reports of a man clutching a screwdriver who was causing a disturbance.

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Police force refers itself to IOPC over boy killed by dog near Rochdale

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Officers reportedly investigated previous attacks on people by dogs from same property where three-year-old was attacked

Greater Manchester police have referred themselves to the independent complaints body after it emerged that officers had had previous involvement in the case of a three-year-old boy killed by a dog.

The child died on Sunday after what police described as a “tragic, devastating incident” at a farm property on Carr Lane, Milnrow, near Rochdale.

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Met officer accused of paralysing black man loses bid for anonymity

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Imran Mahmood was charged with grievous bodily harm after Jordan Walker-Brown was left paralysed from the chest down

A Metropolitan police officer accused of grievous bodily harm after a black man was left paralysed from the chest down has been named after losing a bid to keep his name from the public domain.

Imran Mahmood, 35, was charged with grievous bodily harm on 31 March and had sought anonymity from Westminster magistrates court after expressing concern of Jordan Walker-Brown’s alleged links to criminal gangs, according to the PA news agency, which sought submission of the officer’s name alongside other media organisations.

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Dame Cressida Dick forced out of scandal-hit Met police

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Chief to leave role two years early after London’s mayor accused her of failing to deal with misogyny and racism in the force

Cressida Dick has been forced out as head of the Metropolitan police after London’s mayor accused her of failing to deal with a culture of misogyny and racism within Britain’s biggest force.

Dick’s dramatic resignation was announced just hours after she told a radio phone in that she would stay in post and had a plan to rid the Met of its toxic culture. But when City Hall let her aides know the plan was inadequate, the commissioner decided to boycott a showdown meeting set for 4.30pm and quit instead.

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Met police misogyny: the rot runs even deeper than thought

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Charing Cross station case shows old problems were allowed to fester on social media thanks to culture of fear

Case by case, the idea that the police’s problems with women is the result of a few bad apples rather than a misogynistic culture gets harder to maintain.

The revelations about the hate-filled messages among officers sent via WhatsApp and Facebook at Charing Cross station in central London are exceptionally sickening in their nature.

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Keeping an eye on the force: life in the real Line of Duty

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As the popular BBC drama returns, a former crime reporter takes a look at the reality of fighting police corruption

Last week, an officer from South Wales police received formal notification that they were under investigation regarding their dealings with a man who had been arrested and held overnight in a cell in Cardiff.

The suspect had been released from custody the following morning then found dead shortly afterwards. The investigation is to focus on whether the level of force used by the officer was “necessary, proportionate and reasonable” in the circumstances.

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Police watchdog opens investigation after man shot dead in Swindon

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Independent Office for Police Conduct says Wiltshire police officers responded to reports of two men arguing in the street

The police watchdog has opened an investigation into the death of a 57-year-old man who was shot after Wiltshire police were called to an incident in Swindon.

On Sunday, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced it had opened an investigation into the incident.

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Police call for tougher stop and search rules after officer’s death in Croydon

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Scrutiny of procedures urged following fatal shooting of officer in Croydon police station

Police officers believe there needs to be an urgent review of the stop and search protocols used when arresting suspects, following the fatal shooting of Sgt Matiu Ratana.

As the Metropolitan police and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launch investigations into the death of the popular 54-year-old custody sergeant, questions remain as to how it happened.

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Racism campaigners call for police watchdog to be abolished

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Black families whose relatives have died in police incidents demand end to systemic racism

Black families in the UK whose loved ones have died in incidents involving the police have called for the abolition of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, which investigates the police, and the immediate suspension of officers involved in deaths as part of a new plan to address systemic racism and unlawful killings.

The United Families & Friends Campaign (UFFC), which supports family members of those who have died following police incidents, has drawn up an eight-point plan calling for fundamental changes to the way deaths involving the police are dealt with. A disproportionately high number of these deaths involving the police are black and the UFFC said that failing to successfully prosecute police sends the message that the state can act with impunity.

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Boris Johnson will not face criminal inquiry over Jennifer Arcuri

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IOPC says no further action required over businesswoman’s receipt of public money and access to trade trips

Boris Johnson has avoided a criminal investigation into his relationship with the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri while he was mayor of London.

But he will face a further investigation into his conduct when he was mayor, after the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) found evidence that officials were influenced by the close relationship between the pair.

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Police watchdog to announce decision on Johnson-Arcuri inquiry

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IOPC to reveal on Thursday whether PM will face criminal investigation into relationship

Boris Johnson will find out on Thursday if he faces a criminal investigation into his relationship with an American businesswoman while he was mayor of London.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is to reveal its long-delayed decision on whether to investigate him for possible criminal misconduct over his friendship with Jennifer Arcuri.

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Anger over fresh delays to decision on Arcuri-Johnson probe

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Police watchdog says global witness hunt has slowed investigation of PM’s friendship with entrepreneur when he was London mayor

The police regulator says it has been tracking down witnesses across the world, as it seeks to explain why it has yet to decide whether to launch an investigation into Boris Johnson and his relationship with the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri.

Since late September the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has been evaluating whether to investigate the prime minister for possible criminal misconduct over his friendship with Arcuri when he was mayor of London.

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Shukri Abdi death: police face inquiry over Bury drowning case

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Watchdog received complaint that police did not properly investigate girl’s death

An independent investigation has been launched into how police responded to the death of a 12-year-old girl in a river in Greater Manchester.

Shukri Yahya Abdi drowned in the Irwell in Bury on 27 June. Greater Manchester police said there were no suspicious circumstances and warned people of the dangers of swimming in rivers, lakes and reservoirs in hot weather.

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Sean Rigg death: Met officers’ hearing could be scrapped

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The officers claim innocence of the 2008 death of the musician in custody in Brixton, London

The family of a man who died in police custody may suffer more delays in uncovering the truth as five officers facing a disciplinary hearing beginning on Monday morning are considering asking for the hearing to be scrapped, the Guardian has learned.

The Metropolitan police officers potentially face the sack over the 2008 death of musician Sean Rigg, 40, who died after being restrained.

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