Complaints
There are a number of public bodies that deal with complaints against the police service. The following information is designed to help you to direct your complaint correctly.
Complaints against the Police Authority
If you wish to complain about the Police Authority in general, for example about the way it operates or one of its policies, please write to the
Chief Executive
Devon and Cornwall Police Authority
PO Box 229
Exeter
EX2 5YT
alternatively, you may email: polauth@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
or ring (01392) 268333
You should state clearly what it is you are complaining about and provide your name and address. We do not accept anonymous complaints although we will keep your details confidential.
Complaints against the Police Authority Members
Like all public authorities, members of the Police Authority are subject to a Code of Conduct. This Code sets out the expected standards of conduct and behaviour of all our Members.
If your complaint is about an individual member of the Police Authority, their conduct or behaviour, please write to the Chief Executive at the address above.
The complaint will be considered and you will be told what will happen to it. If it is decided to refer your complaint to the Police Authority’s Standards Committee, this should happen within 20 days. The Standards Committee is a group of Members tasked with upholding and promoting high ethical standards in the Police Authority. The Committee is chaired by an independent Member who is not part of the Police Authority.
If the Standards Committee consider your complaint, you will be advised of the decision they reach. It will fall into one of these categories:
- To fully investigate your complaint
- Take some other action.
- Send your complaint to the Standards Board for England to investigate. For more information on this, please visit the Standards Board for England’s website. www.standardsboard.gov.uk/Complaints
- Send it to the Standards Committee of another public authority if the Member subject to the complaint belongs to that authority, or one of the parish or town councils that come under it.
- Take no further action.
If you disagree with the Devon and Cornwall Police Authority’s Standards Committee’s ruling, you may ask the Committee to review it. This request must be made within one calendar month of the original decision.
Complaints against Police Authority staff
If your complaint is about an individual member of the Police Authority staff, their conduct or behaviour, please write to the Chief Executive at the address above.
If your complaint is against the Chief Executive, please write to the Chairman of the Police Authority at the following address.
The Chairman
Devon and Cornwall Police Authority
PO Box 229
Exeter
EX2 5YT
Complaints against the Police
If your complaint is against a Devon and Cornwall Constabulary police officer of Assistant Chief Constable, Deputy Chief Constable or Chief Constable rank, or police staff holding the position of Director, it should be addressed to the Chief Executive at the address above.
The Chief Executive will consider the complaint and inform you of any action that will be taken.
If your complaint is against a Devon and Cornwall Constabulary police officer of chief superintendent rank or below, this will be dealt with by the Constabulary’s Professional Standards Department and you will need to contact them. Please write to:
Professional Standards Department
Devon and Cornwall Constabulary
Middlemoor
Exeter
EX2 7HQ
or telephone 01392 452269
or email professionalstandards@devonandcornwall.pnn.police.uk
or use the on-line complaint reporting form, available here www.devon-cornwall.police.uk/
Or in person at any police station.
You may also lodge your complaint via the Independent Police Complaints Commission’s website at www.ippc.gov.uk. It should be noted that the IPCC generally only deal with very serious complaints against the police. Less serious complaints will be referred back the local Force for dealing with.
Complaints about the failure to release information under the Freedom of Information Act
If you wish to complain about the Police Authority not releasing information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, please write to the
Chief Executive
Devon and Cornwall Police Authority
PO Box 229
Exeter
EX2 5YT
this will then be referred to the Police Authority’s Standards Committee for consideration. The Standards Committee is chaired by an independent Member who is not part of the Police Authority.
If the Police Authority judges that your complaint should be dealt with by the Constabulary, the Data Protection Act requires us to seek your permission to forward your complaint to their Professional Standards Department. Please indicate if you would be happy for us to do this. This will save time in us having to contact you to seek your permission which may otherwise delay the complaints process.
If you have any questions about the complaints procedure or are unsure of where to direct your complaint, please contact the Police Authority.