The IOPC has confirmed that former DPP Sir David Calvert Smith will lead the external review.

The review into the resignation of the former IOPC Director General will be conducted by former DPP Sir David Calvert Smith.

The review will look into the circumstances of Michael Lockwood’s resignation to ensure IOPC processes and policies are fit for purpose, corporate risks were understood, and to make any recommendations for accountability, governance, culture and practice.

Mr Lockwood had informed staff that he was resigning with immediate effect on December 2 last year. At the time he said it was for “personal and domestic reasons”.

The Home Secretary said in December: “I took immediate action upon being made aware that Mr Lockwood was the subject of a police investigation into an historic allegation, and instructed my officials to ask him to resign or face immediate suspension from his role.”

It is understood that Mr Lockwood had privately informed a Home Office official about the allegation on November 4, while senior members of the IOPC were first told about it in October.

He was the first director general appointed to lead the IOPC when it replaced the Independent Police Complaints Commission in 2018.

Julia Mulligan, Senior Independent Director on the IOPC Unitary Board said: “The review is an important step to establish the known facts and events which led up to Mr Lockwood’s resignation, so that we can assure ourselves that we have the right procedures and processes in place to deal with these types of circumstances.

“It is important that this is an independent review, which is why we have asked Sir David Calvert Smith to lead it. Sir David has had a long and distinguished legal career and I am pleased he’s agreed to conduct the review. He will produce a report with recommendations to the IOPC Unitary Board on any changes to policy and wider governance within the organisation.”

The review is expected to report before the summer.