Police chief forced to resign on ‘criminal charges’

The head of the police station was forced to resign after becoming the subject of a criminal investigation, the interior minister said.

Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director-general Michael Lockwood said he resigned on Friday for “personal and domestic reasons”.

But Suella Braverman revealed she was forced to take “immediate action” after being alerted to a police investigation into a “historic allegation” against Mr Lockwood.

“I have accepted the resignation of Michael Lockwood as Director General of the Independent Bureau of Police Conduct,” she said.

“I acted immediately upon learning that Mr. Lockwood was the subject of a police investigation into a historic allegation and have directed my officers to ask him to resign or face an immediate suspension from his role.

“Home Office staff are working expeditiously with the IOPC’s unified board to make temporary arrangements for the running of the organization.”

Mr Lockwood was the first Director-General appointed to head the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018.

He said in a statement: “It is with great sadness that I have decided to step down as Director-General of the IOPC for personal and domestic reasons and this takes effect today.

“It has been a tremendous privilege to be the first Director General of the IOPC and to have led the organization for the past five years.

“I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and I’m grateful to all of our employees, the Unitary Board and external stakeholders for their support.

“The Unitary Board will now work with the Home Office to finalize new leadership arrangements as soon as possible.”

Mr Lockwood was previously Chief Executive of the London Borough of Harrow in North West London.

After the Grenfell Tower fire in 2017, he managed the recovery and rehabilitation work and liaised with the bereaved, survivors and the wider community.

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