Frequently asked questions
I want to make a complaint about the actions of a member of my police force
As a member of police staff, how do I report improper conduct of a colleague?
I want to make a complaint about the actions of a member of my police force
The legislation supporting the police complaints system sets out who can make a complaint and the circumstances in which a complaint can be made.
For both police staff and police officers, those circumstances are very specific. Making a complaint and having all the rights of a complainant (such as a right of appeal) will only apply where a serving member of police staff or a police officer:
- is off duty at the time of the alleged conduct
- complains about the conduct of a person serving with the police who, at the time of the alleged conduct, is under the direction and control of a different chief officer to the person making the complaint
This does not mean that a member of police staff cannot make a complaint about an incident and the actions of someone within their own force.
If a complaint reveals a breach of the Code of Conduct (or from 1 December 2008, the Standards of Professional Behaviour where they apply) then the police force may record the complaint as a conduct matter.
When deciding whether to record a conduct matter, the police force will consider the seriousness of the conduct to determine how it is handled (for example, where the conduct involves a death or serious injury).
Where a complaint made by a member of police staff is determined to be a recordable conduct matter, the member of staff may be considered as an interested person for the purpose of being kept informed of the progress of an investigation. The member of police staff will not have any rights as a complainant.
Where members of staff wish to make complaints about action taken in respect of appointments or dismissals, pay, discipline or other personnel matters, these should be pursued directly with his or her force. An investigation of a grievance could identify matters considered to be recordable conduct matters.
The IPCC would not normally become involved unless the conduct in question fell within the mandatory referral criteria.
As a member of police staff, how do I report improper conduct of a colleague?
From 1 December 2008, agreed Standards of Professional Behaviour will apply to police staff represented by UNISON. One of the standards concerns challenging and reporting improper conduct.
There may be circumstances where a member of police staff feels they cannot challenge a colleague directly or approach a line manager with their concerns. Where this is the case, each police force has a confidential reporting mechanism where the matter may be reported.
The IPCC also has a dedicated report line. It was set up specifically to enable police officers and police staff to report (to the IPCC) concerns of wrongdoing or malpractice within the workplace. Such wrongdoing/malpractice would reveal that a criminal offence has been committed or evidence of misconduct that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings.
The IPCC report line aims to work alongside each force’s existing internal practices, as well as supporting the IPCC’s role as a prescribed body for the purposes of public interest disclosure.
As the report line is seen as supplementary to existing force practices, police officers and staff will in the first instance be encouraged to raise their concerns with their Professional Standards departments.
Details of the IPCC report line can be obtained from your union.
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