Challenging the Police

Originally written by Garry Crystal, updated by the editorial team on 4th April 2026

Challenging the police if you feel they have not properly carried out their duties is a legal right for people living in Britain.

There are a number of different ways that complaints can be made if you feel the police have been acting irresponsibly within their duties.

Police Misconduct

There are a number of reasons why the public may want to make a complaint regarding police behaviour.

Reasons can include:

Abuse of rights
Harassment and use of excessive force
A member of the public has been arrested unlawfully
A member of the public has been a witness to police misconduct
The police are treating certain groups in the community unfairly
Allegations of corruption, hate crimes, assault and injury
Death or serious injury while in custody

Where to Make a Complaint

Complaints can be submitted verbally or in writing at any local police station. If you are making a complaint in writing always make sure you obtain a copy of the complaint for yourself. You can also make a complaint about the police to an independent agency such as the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB). Information that is given must be accurate and honest and contain as many details as possible. Remember, the police can take legal action against anyone who makes a false complaint against the police force.

The IPCC

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is an organisation designed specifically to deal with complaints made against the police. If a complaint is made directly to the IPCC they will then forward it to the appropriate police force. The IPCC is a regulatory body that sets the standard regarding how police complaints procedures are handled. This organisation will handle complaints dealing with the behaviour of police officers and police staff. You can also use the IPCC’s online complaint form to send your complaint directly to the IPCC.

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Police Complaints Procedure

Complaints about inappropriate behaviour of police officers and staff must be reported within 12 months of the incident taking place. Details should be as accurate as possible and include the time and date of the incident, the people involved and the police identity numbers if possible. Also try to include the names of any witnesses to the incident and anything that may support your claim such as CCTV cameras in the area. Witness statements will also be helpful but should be set out only by the witnesses.

Investigating the Complaint

The complaint will be investigated by a complaints and discipline department within the police force. Most complaints will be dealt with through the local police force but there are exceptions. Very serious complaints such as assault, corruption and discriminatory behaviour may be passed on to the IOPC. The IOPC may then conduct a supervised investigation. The IOPC can conduct supervised, managed and independent investigations depending on the seriousness of the allegation.

Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.

Why You Should Complain?

Many people who feel they do have a justifiable complaint against the police will simply forget the matter due to fear of consequences. However, the police do take complaints against police officers very seriously and allegations should always be thoroughly investigated. By making a complaint you are taking a stand that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated within your own community. Complaints should also always be made if you are a witness to any type of police misconduct.

The Complaint Outcome

There are a number of different scenarios that may be the result of an allegation made against the police. As a result of a complaint the police may have to improve or change their procedures. If the complaint is of a particularly serious nature it may end up being taken to the criminal courts. The police may also end up taking misformal conduct action against the individual officer or officers that the complaint was made against.

Making an Appeal

If you feel that the complaint was not appropriately handled or you are unhappy about the outcome then you may be able to complain to the IOPC. The IOPC will look at the appeal and make a decision as to whether or not to investigate the matter further. The IOPC can also make the police change their decision or investigate the allegation further.

Members of the public should never be afraid of making a complaint against the police. Making a complaint is the only way to ensure that police misconduct is not tolerated within the community.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Discrimination Claim Eligibility Checker lets you determines if your situation meets legal criteria for a discrimination claim under UK law. Try it now →

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CivilRightsMovement Editor 20/05/2026 at 9:16 am

@N That sounds incredibly distressing, and a dismissed complaint is sadly common at the first stage. Escalate it to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) directly, as they can review how the force handled your complaint. Make sure your son has a solicitor specialising in criminal defence, not just a duty solicitor, and keep a written log of every interaction with the police. Organisations like Liberty and the Centre for Criminal Appeals may also be worth contacting if you genuinely believe he was framed.

N 01/04/2025 at 2:12 pm

My son is wrongfully accused of a crime he hasn’t committed.We believe he got framed up and now we struggle to get him out of this misery.
I have formal complaint they just laughed their way out.

Three innocent people a family of three, shame on such

Non 03/11/2020 at 8:21 am

I witnessed and reported the murder of my English friend. The GMP have concluded a murder case without interviewing the complainant or the witnesses. Now, they are silencing me and my family by harrasment and intimidation.
A genuine murder case swept under the mat.
Any advice, can anyone help!

Davec 14/07/2020 at 12:56 am

And they haven’t even got the initials of the IOPC correct. It is a total joke and it seems it will never criticise a group police action , only an individual officer who they are wanting to get rid of

Davec 13/07/2020 at 5:26 pm

Police arrested and prosecuted me for visiting a scam website. Made out it was genuine even though it wasn’t I have autism became very anxious cycle accidy3 days before I was de in court nearly killed left disabled and blind one eye court found me unanimously not guilty. Tried to complain that police caused me to be nearly killed. Police brick wall complaint I have also lost £2m due to this. Ippc are all ex police and won’t look at it. There is no way to get complaint fairly considered Look at Hillsboro. The police are above the law and can abuse it. They’ve ruined my life and family

Pb01 10/07/2020 at 12:26 pm

Hi. My sister's boyfriend was arrested a few months ago. He has not been convinced. The police arrested him in a raid on my sister's house. They have tried to arrest her on money laundering, but didn't have any evidence. My sister has since moved house due to anxiety over living in previous house due to the raid. A few days ago they raided her new home and said that it was nothing to do with her but her boyfriend (who they still have in custody). Her boyfriend has never been to her new home. The police seem to be grasping at straws. My sister has had a massive decline in her mental health since this began. She is already thinking of moving house again but I think that they will just raid her new home if she did. I think she will end up having a mental breakdown if this continues. Any advice would be great.

Anon 09/09/2019 at 7:39 am

English person living in Scotland, police are racist against us and will not help, we’ve suffered years of abuse from neighbours around us and even been assaulted, police won’t even make an arrest against the perpetrators but arrest us instead.

Crunk 02/06/2019 at 2:17 pm

Made complaint against W.P.O Lacey of city police London bishops gate 24/05/2019 (l have doctor sick note) she's not a qualified multiple phycological specialist doctor? she took side's with the Man who I made the complaints against, she slandered me with derogatory comments regarding my mental health , I have never been the same since privy to W.P.O Lacey of city police London bishops gate,they just closed the case WEB-RBR-W6Y-TS7 19000265700 without any mutual compromise ,had to report them for perverted justice.

Evi Dence 09/04/2019 at 9:52 am

My son and I have had problems with a new neighbour (a senior banker) for nearly 3 years, he has verbally abused us, assaulted us, watched his dog poo outside our premises, driven at us, driven at speed across the grass verge in front of our house, made false accusations to police and local authorities, called my 40 year old son a paedophile because he'd looked at his 17 year old son, fishtailed when driving towards my 70 year old wife. The police refuse to take any action against him, the local authority have prosecuted for his dogs mess and served him with an anti-social order, yet he still continues. We believe senior police officers are influenced by Lloyds Bank or his uncle a senior Freemason! View 'Michael huke' on YouTube to see some evidence for your selves. We are at a loss as what to do to dissuade this mans actions!

Terry 26/03/2019 at 12:57 pm

Once a police PSD record a complaint under the provisions of the Police Reform Act 2002 are they legally required to investigate, or can they ignore the complaint? I have asked the IOPC this question, but am referred to the local force PSD who do not reply.

Simon 22/03/2019 at 7:01 pm

I would like to enquiry as to whether there is any case against Police? The crux of my enquiry is that we have long-lasting (for a number of years in a row) problems with neighbours next door. They behave in anti-social, harassing, abusive and threatening manner along with causing systematic noise disturbance by long-hours (until 3-4am next day) drunken parties held in their backyard garden which is just separated with fence. Our local Council have witnessed by issuing a formal abatement notice under Section 80 of the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Further, a breach of that notice has been twice witnessed by that same Council. Our problems with neighbours escalated to such outrageous displays like burning cigarette ends along with a bag filled with neighbours dogs' poor were thrown onto our conservatory roof. Police who did initially allegedly 'investigated' such behaviour concluded there was no case by even suggesting, in a mockery-sounding manner, that it could be seagulls who picked up burning cigarettes' butts and then dropped them onto our conservatory's roof. Further, just recently, there were another two outrageous displays of the escalation of the neighbours' abusive, threatening and harassing hate-motivated behaviour towards us. In the night-time (at around 2am) a heavy glass item was thrown from the neighbouring property into one of our house' bedroom windows. An hour later, the neighbour who was heavily drunk, used switched on high-pressure washer as kind of weapon by directing it at one of our outside CCTV cameras with apparent intention to destroy it. All these incidents recorded by our CCTV cameras which, along with video capture have sound-recording. As it is evident from these records contents, regardless that it is almost impossible to recognise faces of the perpetrators, nevertheless, both incidents are backed up by voice/audio-recordings which establish identity of the perpetrators. Police did initially again allegedly started 'investigation' by further quickly jumping to conclusion that there is 'no enough evidence to support prosecution'. This assertion appears to be false, as police did not investigate anything. Why? Plainly because the main house owner, our neighbour, is an active police officer of that same police force which allegedly 'investigated' my claims. I have already submitted a formal complaint to the Chief Constable, by addressing to the criminal activity committed by the police officer's members of family, as well as against the investigator who effectively buried out investigation by destroying / making 'inadmissible' all documentary evidence and failing to investigate criminal offences. However, shockingly, I have been approached by that same 'investigator' who is a subject of my complaint. Can I sue police for misconduct and cover up of criminal activity of the police officer's members of family?

Joycie 04/12/2018 at 7:11 pm

I have reported to police about my sister who took tens of thousands of pounds out of my mams accounts even though my mother lacked capacity and was in a nursing home it was proved someone’s rent was going out of the account which wasn’t my mothers as she is fully funded safeguarding know all about this as does the bank and dwp who froze accounts one police officer on the case said there was enough evidence to arrest sister and partner then she left and passed it over to another officer who said he only had evidence to arrest her then after over a year of waiting he decides it’s not a crime because apparently she will get it any way when my mother dies this is unbelievable

Peace 22/10/2018 at 6:17 pm

The psni , police force of northern Ireland, constantly throw there weight about they harrass decent people, tell lies and abuse power.

Lenord 14/07/2018 at 6:22 pm

I went to police as my ex was putting all over social media disgusting things stating my name thing tjat could ruin my busines .
One thing that a man should never be called she was saying i was one then try adding people i new .
I gave police evidence .
Pages an pages of evidence
The pc in question said she can put what she wants its not breaking the law .
Since tbat ive had more an more sent to me this being going on over 7 weeks police done nothing .despite me saying shes harrasing me .
Then trys contacting my new partner sending threats to kill still nothing

Anon 08/07/2018 at 7:05 pm

The police do as they wish they are not fearful of being investigated by the IPCC why should they, police "police" themselves basically. My poor friend suffered as a result of relaying information to them assuming that they would help and wouldn't breach confidentially but they did just that and they do it openly too, they simply don't care.
Have they changed since poor Stephen Lawrence's death some 25 years ago - no!
I no longer have faith in them, - the force is no longer fit for purpose.
I would be fearful of having any contact with them following this incident.

bizzybetty 10/06/2018 at 3:03 pm

Many of the force is corrupt and if you are an officer with human morals you don't fit in!

Either gaining cheated funds for pensions or using position to lie or con the public (yes the police investigate themselves - their friends and collegues), so what do you expect.

Vote for a party who believes in justice and share, share, share on the net.
The disillusioned public will not stay quiet.

bizzybetty 10/06/2018 at 3:02 pm

Manny of the force is corrupt and if you are an officer with human morals you don't fit in!
Either gaining cheated funds for pensions or using position to lie or con the public (yes the police investigate themselves - their friends and collegues), so what do you expect.

Vote for a party who believes in justice and share, share, share on the net.
The disillusioned public will not stay quiet.

Butcher 10/05/2018 at 7:37 pm

I have neighbours from hell whom lie to the police, threaten me with violence. Try to have my partner doone for harrassment, by lying to the police the council. Housing. They are not normal and i believe drug dealing, to have a great lifestyle. The police seem to believe them and they hide behand there kids, they harrass me at work and tell everyone lies and they are nutcases. The police must be blind as they believe this woman and threaten us and force us to sign a pin, even the police standards ignre complaints about there group and gives the police bad pubility. We wont be forced out of our house with a woman whos mentally disturbed

CivilRightsMovement Editor 04/04/2018 at 11:39 am

If you have a complaint to make about the police, you can check out the Independent Office for Police Conduct

Penguin 01/04/2018 at 3:06 pm

Hi my name is Jamie I am from northern Ireland can I take the police up for not attending my sense of an attack or how would I do it

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