The role of an Independent Panel Member is to sit on Police Misconduct Hearing Panels and Police Appeal Tribunals and assist misconduct panels in determining a fair and evidence-based judgement about a particular police officer’s conduct and agreeing an appropriate sanction. 
Further information can be found in the in the IPM Handbook which has been produced by the Association of Policing and Crime Chief Executives (APACCE). This is an advisory document but for the sake of national and regional consistency, Wiltshire OPCC relies on its provisions (except where it specifically departs from them).  

IPM Handbook 2024.pdf

The aim of the role is to provide reassurance to the community that misconduct matters are properly investigated, and proceedings properly adjudicated, and to ensure that there is an independent and impartial voice on such panels. 

Candidates must be able to demonstrate the competencies required for the role:

• Experience of evaluating evidence, or information and making objective, unbiased, thoughtful decisions, and the confidence to bring the required level of independence to the process
• Excellent communication skills.

The following would be an advantage:

• Some knowledge of personnel practices and of the police service
• Previous experience of how organisations work and how meetings are run, ideally with experience of professional regulations, tribunals, or other legal processes
• Experience of working with disciplinary procedures 

The ‘relevant experience’ required by legislation for one of the two IPMs appointed for a misconduct hearing may include experience of leadership or professional regulations, tribunals or other legal processes and of working with disciplinary procedures across the private public or voluntary sector. There is no difference between the two IPMs in terms of responsibility or payments. 
 
There is no upper or lower age limit for candidates for this post (apart from any statutory retirement age for judicial appointments). 

The appointment will be subject to satisfactory references and criminal record and security vetting checks, including social network checks and attendance at training. 
The PCC and Wiltshire Police value diversity and welcome applications from all our communities.  

The independence and impartiality of an Independent Panel Member is a fundamental requirement, therefore exclusions apply (please see full job description for details). 

The key responsibilities of an IPM include:

• attending and participating effectively in hearings as required.
• preparing for hearings by considering in advance relevant papers, reports, and background information.
• constructively challenging accepted facts and views in these hearings where appropriate.
• attending training offered that is relevant to the role and taking a proactive approach to considering what additional development would be appropriate.
• maintaining high standards of professional conduct and ethics and upholding the Seven Principles of Standards in Public Life (the Nolan Principles).

The Appointment is for a term of 5 years which may be extended by agreement. 

Misconduct cases are triggered by the officer receiving notice of misconduct proceedings. Although cases are unpredictable in nature and frequency, it is estimated an IPM should expect to sit on a panel for 2 - 4 cases per annum with the duration unknown.  

If you have been appointed to the panel list (following a recruitment process which includes security vetting, satisfactory references and the completion of training) you will be eligible to sit on a panel for a specific gross misconduct hearing. Each panel requires 2 IPMs, one of whom has ‘relevant experience’ (which may include experience of leadership or professional regulations, tribunals or other legal processes and of working with disciplinary procedures across the private public or voluntary sector).  

In the interests of fairness and transparency IPMs are normally selected for a hearing from the panel list using the ‘cab rank’ system. This means the OPCC will select the next IPM on the list and request their availability for the hearing date. If an IPM is not available, the OPCC will go to the next one on the list (and so on) and the IPM who was not available will remain at the front of the list for next time. If the IPM is available, they will be formally appointed to that hearing in accordance with Regulation 28 of the Police (Conduct) Regulations 2020 as amended. 

Fees and expenses are paid in accordance with the Scheme of Allowances. 

The main points are summarised below: 

Full day i.e. sittings of more than 4 hours (excluding meal breaks): £357.00                       

Half day i.e. sittings of 4 hours or less (excluding meal breaks): £178.50                               

The "fees" rates may be claimed only for sitting on a Misconduct Panel or PAT. 

A fee may also be claimed at the rate of £25.00 for each hour necessarily spent in preparatory work. This fee may, however, only be claimed where it is necessary for the work to be undertaken on a day other than the day on which the hearing takes place, (except that a fee may be claimed even in these circumstances if the hearing fee is paid at the half-day rate). 

Travel and expenses are paid according to the Scheme of Allowances for the OPCC. 

We have recently carried out a recruitment process and are not currently recruiting more IPMs. However, if you are interested in this role, please email  [email protected]  and we will be happy to keep your name on a list of potential applicants who we will notify when the role is advertised again in the future.