IOPC investigates officer over CCTV review in Farage home firebombing case

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) is examining whether the Metropolitan Police "missed an opportunity to protect the public" in its investigation of the April 2025 firebombing attempt at Nigel Farage's home. 1 2 After the original attack, police told Mr Farage that security cameras had not captured the suspect. 1 The case was reopened during the wider inquiry into the death of Reform UK spokeswoman Ann Widdecombe at her Devon home earlier this year; the Express says there is no suggestion the two incidents are connected. 2 1

A further examination of the footage reportedly found the suspect and their car had been captured over an "extended period"; GB News attributes this to The Telegraph. 1 2 According to the Express, police had taken 74 hours of footage from cameras around the property in the original investigation. 2 The officer who first reviewed the footage is under IOPC investigation over possible discreditable conduct and whether the CCTV work met the required standard. 2

Counter Terrorism Policing London acknowledged that a line of inquiry was not identified or pursued at the time, and made a mandatory conduct referral to the IOPC. 2 Vicki Evans of counter-terrorism policing said no arrests were made and the original investigation was closed pending new lines of inquiry; she said the force would engage fully with the IOPC. 2 No one has been charged over the attack, and Mr Farage had said at the time that the fire burned itself out in the porch while he was away. 2