Recommendation JB-15.23: Written questions as alternative to face-to-face IOPC interviews
From Report into the Death of Jermaine Baker, published 5 July 2022.
Recommendation
Consideration should be given to the introduction of a practice requiring, as an alternative to a face-to-face interview, the submission of a list of questions for written answer within a fixed time – failure to provide which, absent a reasonable excuse, would amount to misconduct.
In brief (written by this site)
Danny Simpson, Solicitor for the Independent Office for Police Conduct, stated in October 2022 that the issue informed police witness guidance published in July 2022, which permits questions to be sent to key police witnesses and notes that a failure to respond in a timely manner may lead to a referral to consider recording a conduct matter (Danny Simpson response, Oct 2022). The record holds no update since the Independent Office for Police Conduct's response of October 2022 (Danny Simpson response, Oct 2022).
Sources
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
This issue was raised during the inquiry and informed the IOPC’s police witness guidance which was being developed and was published on 13 July 2022. The guidance permits questions to be sent to key police witnesses and for them to be required to respond in a timely manner. It explains a failure to do so may lead to a referral to the Appropriate Authority (to consider recording a conduct matter).
Delivery
No statement on delivery from Independent Office for Police Conduct has been found in the sources searched (last checked 2 October 2026). This is separate from the response above.
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Independent Office for Police Conduct
Response