IOPC Chief Michael Lockwood Quits Amid Mystery Allegation
Shock Resignation Over Unnamed Probe
Michael Lockwood, director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), quit suddenly on Friday citing “personal and domestic reasons.” But Home Secretary Suella Braverman revealed the real story the next day: Lockwood was under investigation over a historical allegation.
Braverman confirmed Lockwood was forced to choose between resignation or suspension. She accepted his immediate resignation with no further details about the nature of the claim. The Home Office is now scrambling to put temporary leadership in place at the IOPC.
IOPC’s Founding Boss Steps Down
Lockwood was the IOPC’s first-ever chief, stepping up when it replaced the old Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018. The organisation oversees England and Wales’ toughest police misconduct cases.
In his farewell statement, Lockwood expressed “great sadness” at leaving, calling his role an “enormous privilege.”
Lockwood’s Career in Public Service
- Ex-chief executive of the Borough of Harrow in north-west London
- Led the Grenfell Tower recovery efforts in 2017, liaising with affected families and survivors
- Qualified accountant with a background at the National Audit Office and Local Government Association
The investigation’s specifics remain under wraps, leaving questions hanging over the IOPC’s top official exit.
