How to Appeal to the IPCC
If you have made a complaint against the police and you are not happy with the way it has been handled, you may be able to appeal to the IPCC. The Police Reform Act of 2002 includes measures to ensure that complaints against the police are properly handled and that complainants have a right of appeal under certain circumstances.
The IPCC is responsible for the way complaints about the police are handled. We are also 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.
There are three types of appeal. Each type applies at different stages of the complaints process, on different grounds, and with different consequences.
The classes of appeal are:-
How can I make an appeal?
If, after reading the information above, you decide that you want to make an appeal you need to complete a form relating to the type of appeal you want to make.
There can get the relevant form in a number of ways:
- The police may have given you the leaflet
- You can ask for a leaflet at any police station
- You can contact the IPCC and ask us to send you one
You can download electronic versions of the leaflets
Fill the form in and send it to us, telling us why you want to make an appeal and giving us as much detail as you can.
How will the IPCC deal with my appeal?
Once your appeal form has been received, the IPCC will send you a letter to tell you we have received it.
We will also contact the police to tell them about the appeal, give them a copy of your appeal and ask them for any information they have about your complaint.
Once we have received all the information from the police we can then assess your appeal and make a decision about it.
If your appeal is upheld, the IPCC will give instructions to the chief police officer or police authority about what they should do about your complaint. The police must follow these instructions. We will tell you in writing about the instructions we give to the police and explain what happens next.
If your appeal is not upheld, we will write to you explaining how and why the IPCC made its decision. The IPCC is an independent organisation and our final decisions cannot be overruled except by a court of law.
What if I need more advice?
If you are still not sure what to do next, or you need some more information you can contact an organisation which offers people help, such as your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Racial Equality Council, Neighbourhood Warden, Youth Offender Team, CEMVO Office or Probation Service, all of whom can provide information, or you can talk to a legal advisor.
You can also contact the IPCC for advice about the appeals process.
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