DECS Reference: TRO/1416165/25
Dear Mr Cook,
Thank you for your correspondence of 31 October to the Minister of State for Policing and Crime about your police complaint. Your e-mail has been passed to the Direct Communications Unit at the Home Office and I have been asked to reply.
I must explain that Home Office Ministers and officials are not able to intervene in individual cases or complaints against the police. This is not through any lack
of interest or concern, but reflects the operational independence of the police; they must be able to make decisions free from political influence. I hope you can appreciate why this is the case.
Police integrity lies at the heart of public confidence in the police and the Government recognises the need for a formal system of police complaints that enables members of the public to raise concerns about the service they have received.
Police complaints are dealt with under a comprehensive legislative framework which sets out the duties of the police themselves in handling complaints as well as the role and functions of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the body which provides oversight of police complaints and investigates the most serious and sensitive matters involving the police.
While the Government is responsible for the legislation under which police complaints are handled, it would not be appropriate for Ministers or officials to comment on, or intervene in, a specific case. This reflects the operational independence of the police and the need for the police to be able to carry out their duties, and make decisions, free from political influence.
When a complaint is made it is right that the police have an opportunity to consider and respond to the matters raised. At the same time, the Government recognises that public confidence is vital to the British model of policing by consent and therefore by law, police forces must refer the most serious allegations about the conduct of a person serving with the police to the IOPC. This ensures an independent decision is taken, in each such case, on how the complaint should be handled.
20 November 2025
A complaint should be made directly to the relevant police force. Police force websites include information about how to complain, and a complaint can also be made via an online form available on the website of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) at: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints/submit-a-complaint.
A short guide to the police complaints system is also available on the IOPC’s website at: https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/complaints/guide-to-complaints-process.
I hope this clarifies the Government’s position. Yours sincerely,
Khaleed Edoo
Email: Public.Enquiries@homeoffice.gov.uk