Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent assessment she has made of the adequacy of funding for the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The funding for the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is determined through an annual budget setting process (in line with the rest of Government). The IOPC are allocated funding from the Police Settlement and from core Home Office funding. In-depth consideration takes place for both involving Departmental finance specialists, senior policy and strategy officials and Ministers agreeing, with input from the IOPC, the appropriate budget for them to undertake their role effectively.

The financial performance of the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) and any pressures and opportunities are then discussed regularly with Home Office officials, alongside consideration of IOPC performance against its objectives. Decisions are taken at a senior level as to whether any additional funding is required to fulfil the IOPC’s objectives and requirements.

The process for funding for 2023/24 is near conclusion. As announced in December, IOPC’s funding from the annual Police settlement will remain level for 2023/24 recognising the importance of ensuring that they are appropriately funded for their work.