The IPCC is run by a Chair, two Deputy Chairs and 11 Commissioners, each responsible for specific forces.

The IPCC has teams of investigators headed by Regional Directors in each of its regions, to assist with supervision and management of some police investigations. They also carry out independent investigations into serious incidents or allegations of misconduct by persons serving with the police.

The Commissioners (including the Deputy Chairs) are appointed by the Home Secretary. The Deputy Chairs have policy and casework responsibilities. The Commissioners work from regional offices and hold prime responsibility for designated police forces and other agencies subject to IPCC oversight.

In June 2009 the IPPC structure was as follows:

Chair: Nick Hardwick
Deputy Chairs: Deborah Glass, Len Jackson
Central Region (Forces: West Midlands, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Staffordshire, West Mercia, Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, Cambridge University, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Essex): Len Jackson, Amerdeep Somal, Rachel Cerfontyne
Wales & South West Region (Forces: North Wales, Dyfed Powys, South Wales, Gwent and Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, Avon & Somerset, Devon & Cornwall, British Transport Police): Tom Davies, Rebecca Marsh
North Region (Forces: Northumbria, Durham, Cleveland, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire, Humberside, Cumbria, Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Port of Liverpool, Lancashire, Cheshire, HMRC, UKBA): Gary Garland, Nicholas Long, Naseem Malik
London & SE Region (Forces: Thames Valley, Hampshire, Surrey. Sussex, Kent, MPS, City of London, SOCA): Mike Franklin, Deborah Glass