Complaining About The Police
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU CAN COMPLAIN ABOUT?
You can complain if you have been treated wrongly by the police. Some examples are:
- An officer has been rude to you
- You were not treated well while in custody
- You feel you were arrested unlawfully
- You feel you were searched without good cause
- The way an officer handled your case.
- You witnessed a police officer doing something wrong.
HOW LONG AFTER THE INCIDENT CAN YOU MAKE A COMPLAINT?
There is no time limit to make a complaint. However, if you are making a complaint outside of the 12 months then you must explain your reasons why you have taken the amount of time you have to submit your complaint.
WHAT IS THE PROCEDURE FOR COMPLAINING TO THE POLICE?
AVENUE 1 – Go to your local police station and make a compliant.
AVENUE 2 – Call 101 and make a compliant.
AVENUE 3 – You can complain in writing to the Complaints Support Team, 22nd Floor, Empress State Building, Lillie Road, London, SW6 1TR.
AVENUE 4 – Complete an online complaints form. Please click the link below.
LINK TO POLICE WEBSITE TO REPORT A CRIME ONLINE
AVENUE 5 – You can contact the independent office for police conduct and complain via them. They have an online form you can complete and submit online. You can also download the form, complete it and either post or email it back. Post address is IOPC, PO Box 473, SALE M33 0BW. Email address is enquiries@policeconduct.gov.uk
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR INDEPENDENT OFFICE FOR POLICE CONDUCT – MAKE A COMPLAINT
CAN SOMEBODY ELSE MAKE A COMPLAINT ON YOUR BEHALF?
Yes they can if you give them a letter of consent which they will need to forward with the complaint.
CAN A PARENT OR SOMEONE WITH PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY MAKE A COMPLAINT ON BEHALF OF A CHILD UNDER 16 YEARS OF AGE?
Yes they can.
WHO CAN YOU CONTACT TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR COMPLAINT?
You can ask the following for help:
Your MP – You will need to make an appointment with your MP and then ask them to help you. Alternatively you can write to your MP.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR UK PARLIAMENT TO FIND YOUR MP
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR UK PARLIAMENT TO CONTACT YOUR MP
Citizens advice bureau – You will need to make an appointment at your local bureau.
Telephone number – 03444 444 111
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CITIZENS ADVICE FOR CHAT WITH AN ONLINE ADVISER
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CITIZENS ADVICE FOR CONTACT US
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR CITIZENS ADVICE – SEARCH FOR YOUR LOCAL CITIZENS ADVICE
WHAT WILL HAPPEN ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR COMPLAINT?
Depending upon the seriousness of your complaint, after the initial assessment, you will be informed how your case will be handled. Some complaints will be formally recorded.
It could be investigated directly by the particular police force concerned or it could be passed to the IOPC (the independent office for police conduct) if it it a serious complaint.
You will be informed of the name of the individual who will handle your complaint and given a case number.
You may be asked for further information.
You will be given an update every 28 days for so. Maybe sooner.
Upon conclusion you will be explained the outcome and told about any action that will be taken. If you are not happy with the outcome you can apply for a review. This will all be explained to you in a letter.
CAN YOU ASK FOR A REVIEW IF YOU’RE NOT HAPPY WITH THE OUTCOME OF YOUR COMPLAINT?
Yes you can. You must apply for a review within 28 days from the day after the date on the police letter explaining the outcome of your complaint.
The letter explaining your outcome will also detail who you should send your right to review to. However, you can read the IOPC webpage as well. Please click on the link below.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR IOPC – APPEALS FORM
If your review is accepted, the review will not investigate the original complaint. They will investigate how your complaint was handled and was the outcome just.
You will be informed of the name of the person handling your review and how long it will take. Once the review is complete you will be explained the outcome and how it was reached.
LINK TO WEBSITE FOR IOPC FOR FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT COMPLAINTS – FEB 2020