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How to make a complaint

There are different ways you can make your complaint. You can make a complaint directly to the police force concerned, who will be responisble for considering your complaint. Through the IPCC or another advice organisation and we will forward the complaint on you behalf.

Whatever the route, all complaints by law, must be forwarded to the ‘appropriate authority’ for consideration. In the majority of cases this will be the Professional Standards Department of the police force concerned.

The IPCC only investigates the most serious complaints. The majority of complaints are satisfactorily investigated by the police force concerned. The IPCC is responsible for considering appeals made by members of the public about their complaints and can, where appropriate, direct the police to change their decision or to take further action.

You can make your complaint:

To any police force by phone, email, post, fax or in person
By contacting any local Citizens Advice Bureau, Youth Offending Team, Racial Equality Council,
Probation Service or Neighbourhood Warden. They can give information about what to do next.
A solicitor or MP can make a complaint on your behalf.

If you would like someone to act on your behalf (perhaps a relative or friend) please provide their details and your written permission separate to your complaint.

Making your complaint to the IPCC:

You can complete an online complaint form
You can download a complaint form or we can send a form to you.
You can contact us by phone, email, post, fax, minicom.

The IPCC does not have the power to record complaints - this is done by the appropriate authority (relevant force professional standards department or police authority). If you chose to make your complaint to the IPCC, we are bound by law to forward the complaint to the appropriate authority for consideration.

You will be asked to provide your consent to do this. Without your consent we are unable to forward your complaint, which means it will not be dealt with.

What you should include in your complaint;

If you wish to make your complaint by letter as well as your full contact details, please try to provide the following information;

WHO? Which police force is your complaint about?
WHERE? Where did the incident/s happen that led to your complaint?
WHEN? When did the incident/s happen that led to your complaint?
WHAT? Please describe the circumstances that have led to you feeling the police have treated you badly.

Please include details of:

Who was involved
What was said and done
Any other people who witnessed the incident
If there was any damage or injury
Details of any witnesses

We also need your consent for us to pass the details of your complaint to the police force concerned for consideration.

For more information see our explanatory leaflets

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How to make a complaint

What you should include in your complaint;

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