Call 0345 113 5000 for all non-emergencies and enquiries
Making a complaint
If you wish to make a complaint
West Midlands Police are committed to reducing crime and disorder and making our communities feel safer. In delivering this vision we aim to provide a professional service to the people of the West Midlands.
Policing is often carried out under difficult conditions and there may be occasions when you think our standards of service fall below what you would expect.
If you think that a police officer or member of police staff has behaved incorrectly or unfairly, you have the right to make a complaint. We would like to hear about any complaints as soon as possible, as this provides us with the opportunity to investigate promptly. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, you should make a complaint within 12 months of the alleged incident.
Who can make a complaint?
You can make a complaint if you:
- You are the person who the behaviour you want to complain about was directed towards.
- You were ‘adversely affected’* by the behaviour you want to complain about. This means that whether the behaviour was towards you or not, it had some sort of bad effect on you. You might have been distressed or inconvenienced by it, you might have suffered some sort of loss or damage because of it or you might have been put in danger.
- You witnessed the behaviour that you want to complain about (this usually means you were an eyewitness, and not for example that you saw it on TV).
(IPCC Guidlines)
Alternatively, if you have their written permission, you might make a complaint on behalf of someone else who falls into one of those categories.
* Being adversely affected may include distress, inconvenience, loss or damage, or being put in danger or at risk. For example, this might apply to other people present at the incident or to the parent of a child, young person or friend of the person directly affected. It does not include someone distressed by watching an incident on television or reading about it in the media.
How can you make a compliant?
You can make a complaint in the following ways:
- Go into any police station and ask to speak to the duty inspector
- Contact the Professional Standards Department on 0345 113 5000 or complete this online form
- Visit your local Citizens' Advice Bureau, which can advise you whether you have grounds for a complaint
- Contact a solicitor or Member of Parliament
- Nominate someone else to put forward your complaint (e.g., friend or neighbour, as long as they have a letter from you authorising them to do so)
- Writing a letter detailing the full circumstances, to the Chief Constable, at the following address:
Police Headquarters
West Midlands Police
Lloyd House
Colmore Circus
Birmingham
B4 6NQ
The Professional Standards Department
The Professional Standards Department will decide if the matter you raise should be recorded in compliance with the Police Reform Act 2002. If we do not believe the complaint should be recorded we will tell you and you will have a right of appeal to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPPC).
We will proportionately investigate all recorded complaints and misconduct relating to West Midlands Police staff.
In addition, the department is responsible for investigating any alleged corrupt, dishonest or unethical behaviour.
Based at headquarters, the department is staffed by both police officers and police staff and is headed by a detective chief superintendent.
Contacting the Professional Standards Department
Write to:
- Professional Standards Department
West Midlands Police
Lloyd House
Colmore Circus
Birmingham
B4 6NQ
Fax: 0121 626 5004
Email: psd@west-midlands.pnn.police.uk
Online submission form:
The vast majority of people in the police service act with honesty and integrity but, as with any other large organisation, it is always possible that some individuals may not adhere to those standards.
If you have a complaint or an allegation of misconduct about a member of staff working for West Midlands Police, you can complete the following form.
Your complaint should include:
- When it happened
- What happened
- What was done
- What was said
- Whether there were any witnesses
- Where the witnesses can be contacted
- What proof exists of any damage or injury
Please note - We cannot handle operational issues or crime reporting via this form. If you need to contact a police officer and your enquiry is non-urgent please call 0345 113 5000.
(Fields marked * are mandatory)