IOPC Investigations

IOPC Announcement Date 19 Jan 2026
Operational Policing Decision
West Midlands Police

Independent Office for Police Conduct has begun an independent investigation into the role played by officers and staff from West Midlands Police in the decision to ban supporters of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match in Birmingham. The IOPC confirmed it has used its power of initiative to call in the matter and open an independent investigation.…

Latest Update 26 Aug 2026

IOPC Announcement Date 22 Aug 2026
Death Following Police Pursuit
Cleveland Police

– The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an independent investigation into a fatal road traffic collision in Middlesbrough. – The collision followed a pursuit involving Cleveland Police officers. – Cleveland Police officers had sighted a suspicious vehicle. – A police pursuit began. – The vehicle travelled onto the A66 at South Bank. – The vehicle collided with…

Latest Update 23 Aug 2026

Cleveland Police received intelligence about numerous incidents linked to a Volkswagen Passat.
The Passat was carrying five male occupants.
After the vehicle was sighted, an armed response vehicle began pursuing it.
The pursuit lasted just under seven minutes.
The Passat entered the A66 at South Bank and travelled against the flow of traffic.
Officers abandoned the pursuit and continued travelling on the correct side of the carriageway.
Approximately 10 seconds later, the Passat collided with another police vehicle.
The second police vehicle had not been involved in the pursuit.
Its officers were assisting with a search for the Passat, which was believed to be using cloned registration plates and had activated an ANPR camera.
The collision happened at 3.39am.
Seven people died in the collision.
Two of those who died were Cleveland Police officers PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough.
The five occupants of the Passat who died were Michael Cahill, Theo Rae, Cole Worthy, Jacob Matusiak and Makai Saddington.
Cleveland Police made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The IOPC declared an independent investigation and sent investigators to the scene and the post-incident procedure.
Investigators have obtained initial accounts from officers involved in the pursuit, the incident log and in-car footage.
The IOPC is continuing to obtain, review and analyse evidence.

IOPC Announcement Date 12 Aug 2026
Death Whilst In Police Custody
Cheshire Constabulary

  The woman died in hospital on Tuesday, 4 August 2026. She had become unwell at West Cheshire Custody Suite in Blacon, Chester. Cheshire Constabulary made a mandatory referral to the IOPC on Wednesday, 5 August. The woman reportedly became unresponsive at approximately 10.40 am on Tuesday, 4 August. At 5.30 pm on Monday, 3 August, A&E staff at the…

IOPC Announcement Date 31 Jul 2026
Death During Police Contact
Greater Manchester Police

– The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an independent investigation into the death of Ricky Swindells following contact with Greater Manchester Police. – Greater Manchester Police officers attended a property on Duchy Road in Salford on the evening of 24 July 2026. – Officers were responding to concerns for the welfare of Ricky Swindells. – Ricky Swindells…

IOPC Announcement Date 1 Jul 2026
Conduct Investigation
Hampshire & IOW Constabulary

– The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has advised two serving Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary officers that they are under investigation for potential gross misconduct. – The officers were the first to arrive at the scene on the evening of 3 December 2025. – The investigation follows the conclusion of the trial in which Vickrum Digwa was…

IOPC Announcement Date 11 Jun 2026
Other
Avon & Somerset Constabulary

- The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is appealing for witnesses following the death of Nicholas Stone, aged 65. - Mr Stone attended a counter-protest in Bristol city centre on 10 January 2026. - The counter-protest was arranged in response to a protest organised by Bristol Patriots. - CCTV shows Mr Stone falling to the floor after interacting with…

IOPC Announcement Date 2 Jun 2026
Safeguarding Handling / Conduct Matter
Avon & Somerset Constabulary

The IOPC has launched an investigation into Avon and Somerset Police's contact with Joanne Shaw and Ryan Kelly before their deaths. Joanne Shaw and Ryan Kelly died following an explosion at a property in Frenchay, Bristol, on 3 May 2026. The investigation follows a mandatory referral from Avon and Somerset Police. Police last had contact with Joanne Shaw four days…

IOPC Announcement Date 29 May 2026
Non Fatal Shooting
Greater Manchester Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating a firearms operation involving Greater Manchester Police in which a man was shot. The incident occurred on Bury New Road, Whitefield, at approximately 3pm on 22 May 2026 during a police operation to stop a vehicle. A 20-year-old man, who was the sole occupant of the vehicle, sustained a gunshot wound…

IOPC Announcement Date 13 May 2026
Fatal Police Shooting
Bedfordshire Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating a fatal police shooting which took place in Aylesbury Road, Bedford, on 12 May 2026. A 41-year-old man died after being shot by armed police at a property. Police attended the address following a report made at around 10.40 pm on 11 May of a man behaving disorderly in the street…

Latest Update 27 May 2026

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has formally identified the man who died following the fatal police shooting in Bedford on 12 May 2026 as Angelo Russo, aged 41, from Bedford.

A provisional post-mortem examination found the cause of death to be a gun-shot wound to the chest.

The IOPC said Mr Russo had reportedly been experiencing mental health difficulties and was known to the mental health crisis team.

Investigators are reviewing drone footage, body worn video, police vehicle footage and footage obtained from neighbours.

The IOPC said footage shows Mr Russo waving what appeared to be a pistol-type weapon through a window shortly before the shooting and that he was pointing the weapon towards armed officers at the time he was shot.

The recovered weapon has been described by a ballistics expert as an air pistol. Further testing is ongoing.

Further accounts have been obtained from officers at the scene, who are currently being treated as witnesses.

An inquest will be opened in due course.

IOPC Announcement Date 3 May 2026
Criminal Investigation
Merseyside Police

01The investigation concerns the circumstances leading up to a head-on collision between a police vehicle and a motorbike, which was travelling the wrong way along the hard shoulder while being monitored by a police helicopter. The officer driving the police vehicle has been notified they are under criminal investigation for potential causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and for possible…

IOPC Announcement Date 1 May 2026
Wiltshire Police

The investigation will examine the nature of police interaction with the man and the decisions taken by officers during two separate incidents. The matter arises from events in the early hours of 31 March 2026 in Chippenham, including contact at an address and later in the High Street area, prior to the man falling from Town Bridge and being recovered…

IOPC Announcement Date 30 Apr 2026
Avon & Somerset Constabulary

The investigation concerns whether the use of force was proportionate, reasonable, and in line with policy, including an alleged failure to carry out a pre-discharge check. The matter arises from an incident on 30 November 2025, shortly after 11:00pm, on the M5 motorway, northbound, near the junction for Weston-super-Mare.

IOPC Announcement Date 1 Apr 2026
UseForce / Stop and Search Investigation
Metropolitan Police Service

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the actions of six Metropolitan Police Service officers following the stop and search of a 16-year-old boy in Tottenham on 26 April 2025. A referral was received from the Metropolitan Police Service, which is mandatory in cases involving serious injury following police contact. At around 2pm on 26 April 2025, an officer…

IOPC Announcement Date 27 Mar 2026
Historic Case Investigation
Merseyside Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating complaints linked to a Merseyside Police investigation. The investigation relates to the wrongful conviction of Peter Sullivan for the 1986 murder of Diane Sindall. A referral was received from Merseyside Police on 22 January 2026 following a complaint from Peter Sullivan. Peter Sullivan had spent 38 years in prison before his conviction…

IOPC Announcement Date 27 Mar 2026
Operational Planning & Command Decisions
West Mercia Police

On 24 December 2024, police were called at approximately 2:00pm to an address on Fownhope Close regarding concerns for the welfare of Marcus Meade, aged 39, from Redditch, who was in possession of a knife. Following several hours of negotiations, at approximately 7:40pm officers forced entry to the property. ‘Flashbang’ distraction devices were used. Tasers were discharged. A firearms officer…

IOPC Announcement Date 27 Mar 2026
Death Whilst In Police Custody
Staffordshire Police

On 17 March 2026 at approximately 9:15pm the IOPC was notified by Staffordshire Police of a death in custody. Calvin Davies, aged 41, had been arrested at an address in Stoke-on-Trent shortly after 5:30pm following a call from a member of the public. He was taken to the Northern Area Custody Facility at Etruria. While in custody, his condition deteriorated…

IOPC Announcement Date 26 Mar 2026
Death Whilst In Police Custody
Devon & Cornwall Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating three Devon and Cornwall Police officers for gross misconduct following the death of Michael Carolan in police custody. The investigation will examine: The decision to arrest The nature and adequacy of searches carried out on the detainee The risk assessments completed The level of observations while in custody The medical attention provided…

IOPC Announcement Date 8 Jan 2026
South Yorkshire Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has opened an independent investigation after families were given incorrect information following a fatal road collision in Rotherham. The inquiry relates to a crash on Todwick Road on 13 December 2025, in which a 17-year-old girl and 18-year-old Joshua Johnson were killed. A 17-year-old boy sustained serious injuries and remains in the hospital. South…

IOPC Announcement Date 22 Jan 2026
Missing Person Response / Safeguarding Risk Assessment
Leicestershire Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is carrying out an independent investigation into police actions following the death of Shahab Uddin. Mr Uddin was found deceased near the village of Quorn on 21 August 2025, eight days after he was reported missing by family members. A public complaint was made regarding the initial police response. After Mr Uddin’s death, Leicestershire…

IOPC Announcement Date 9 Feb 2026
Safeguarding Handling / Conduct Matter
Leicestershire Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating the actions of officers and police staff from Leicestershire Police and Nottinghamshire Police following safeguarding concerns raised in July 2024 about children attending a summer camp at Stathern Lodge, Leicestershire. The investigation relates to how information received by Nottinghamshire Police concerning risks to children was recorded, assessed, and passed to Leicestershire Police,…

IOPC Announcement Date 16 Feb 2026
Death Whilst In Police Custody
West Midlands Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has launched an independent investigation. The investigation follows the death of a woman while in police custody. The woman had been arrested by West Midlands Police at 6:30pm on Monday 2 February in Walsall. She was found unresponsive in a cell at Bloxwich police station at 2:15pm on Tuesday 3 February. The woman was…

IOPC Announcement Date 17 Feb 2026
Death During Police Contact
Merseyside Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating an incident in Liverpool in which a 23-year-old man died after being stopped by police. Lain Estridge was taken to hospital following the incident on Back Faulkner Street South on Friday afternoon, where he later died. Police were in the area as part of a proactive operation and approached two men.…

IOPC Announcement Date 12 Feb 2026
Death Whilst Under Arrest
Lincolnshire Police

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is investigating two Lincolnshire Police officers following the death of a 37-year-old man after his arrest. The man was arrested at his home in Lincoln at about 12.50 am on 2 December last year on suspicion of misusing the 999 system. Officers used force during the arrest, including PAVA spray. He was handcuffed…

IOPC Announcement Date 20 Jan 2026
Criminal Investigation
Cheshire Constabulary

The Independent Office for Police Conduct is investigating after an 80-year-old man became seriously unwell while in the custody of Cheshire Constabulary. The man was arrested on suspicion of drink driving shortly after 11.30pm on 7 December and taken into custody. On arrival at the custody suite in the early hours of 8 December, he did not speak. Custody staff…