Police super-complaints

Guidance on submitting a super-complaint about policing.

This guidance is designed to help those making super-complaints on policing issues. It explains the super-complaint process and how super-complaints will be dealt with. It seeks to guide designated bodies on how to present a reasoned case for a super-complaint. It also aims to help designated bodies make comprehensive and robust super-complaints. We can then make sure the response addresses the concerns most appropriately.

This guidance is for bodies designated by the Home Secretary as entitled to make super-complaints. It also gives an overview of the process for others who may be the subject of super-complaints, for those who might be asked for information, and for members of the public who may be interested in the process or in the subjects at hand.

Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the College of Policing and the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have drafted these guidelines together. The word ‘we’ in this document refers to the three organisations collectively.

A super-complaint is a complaint made by a designated body that “a feature, or combination of features, of policing in England and Wales by one or more than one police force is, or appears to be, significantly harming the interests of the public.”(Section 29A, Police Reform Act 2002)

A police force includes the 43 police forces in England and Wales, the National Crime Agency, the Ministry of Defence Police, the Civil Nuclear Constabulary and the British Transport Police.

Super-complaints must be made to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary. However, they will be considered by HMICFRS, the College of Policing and the IOPC, who will together decide what (if anything) needs to happen as a result of the super-complaint.