Improvements starting to show in IOPC handling of Essex cases

THE length of time the IOPC takes to investigate more straightforward investigations in Essex is improving.

Essex Police Federation says the green shoots of improvement are there, although some ‘legacy issues’ remain.

“Some of our newer, fresher cases are being dealt with in a more proportionate amount of time and we are starting to get straight forward results through in a timely fashion for straight forward matters,” Steve Taylor, Federation Chairman, said.

“Some of the legacy stuff is still there. We have a matter going to hearing at the start of February which is three-and-a-half years in and has involved six officers.

“So, we do still have issues with legacy complaints. But we have seen some improvement in some of the matters that are sent to the IOPC.

“When you get that timely result on a straight forward matter then that’s not because the IOPC have done you a favour, that’s because it’s a straight forward matter,” he added.

“The IOPC don’t get credit for just doing their job properly. But they do get criticised when they do it badly.

“Now that’s a phenomenon that all of us in policing are used to because we all encounter that in our daily life.

“So, I don’t think it’s fair to say that they are getting the credit for simply doing their job. But they do still receive criticism when it’s not done properly enough. And to be honest I don’t think they can expect more than that.”