Police complaint route: PSD → IOPC → review
Escalation from professional standards complaint to IOPC and onward review.
When to use this route
You wish to complain about the conduct of a police officer or police force.
When NOT to use this route
For criminal aspects of police misconduct — those are reported to the police and prosecuted separately. For civil damages (assault, false imprisonment) — issue a County Court / High Court claim.
Prerequisites
- • The conduct happened within the last 12 months (later complaints possible in exceptional cases)
Evidence to gather
- • Date, time, location, officer ID/collar number
- • Witness statements
- • CCTV / body-worn video references
- • Medical records (if injuries)
- • Records of interactions
Route map
- Stage 1
PSD complaint
Submit a written complaint to the force's Professional Standards Department. Identify officers and the conduct.
Force has 1 month for initial response - Stage 2
Force investigation
The PSD investigates. Outcome can be: no case to answer, learning, management action, misconduct or gross misconduct hearing.
- Stage 3
Review
If unhappy with the outcome, request a review — usually by the local PCC for non-serious complaints, or the IOPC for serious ones.
- Stage 4
IOPC referral
For serious misconduct or death/serious injury, the matter must be referred to the IOPC, which can investigate independently.
- Stage 5
Misconduct hearing
Officers facing gross misconduct allegations attend a public hearing. Outcomes include dismissal, final written warning, or no further action.
Final remedies
- • Apology / learning outcome
- • Officer disciplinary sanction (warning to dismissal)
- • Service improvement at force level
- • Referral to CPS for criminal prosecution (serious cases)