Complaint procedure

What can I complain about?

Police officers and members of police staff are expected to meet the following standards:

Act with honesty and integrity, fairness and impartiality
Treat you and their colleagues with respect
Not abuse their powers and authority
Act in a way that does not discredit or undermine your confidence in our service

If you feel that someone who works for Sussex Police has not met these standards then you can make a complaint.

Who can make a complaint?

You can make a complaint if you are a member of the public who:

Has been the victim of the misconduct by a person serving with the police. Misconduct could include a police officer or member of police staff being rude to you or using excessive force. It could also include unlawful arrest or an abuse of your rights.
Was present when the alleged misconduct took place, or close enough to see or hear the misconduct, and as a result suffered loss, damage, distress or inconvenience, or was put in danger or at risk.
Is a friend or relative of the victim of the alleged misconduct, distressed by the effects of the incident on the victim.
Has witnessed the alleged misconduct.
Is acting on behalf of any of the above. Please note that if you would like someone to make a complaint on your behalf, you must give them your consent in writing unless they are from a body such as a Citizens Advice Bureau.

How do I make a complaint?

You can make a complaint directly to Sussex Police or through the IPCC or another advice organisation. Whatever the route, all complaints, by law, must be recorded by the police force itself.

If you want to make a complaint you can:

Go into any police station and ask for your complaint to be recorded. A police officer or member of police staff will speak to you about your complaint and explain your options.
Contact Sussex Police via phone on 101. People with hearing or speech difficulties can use a text phone on our Minicom number 01273 483435.
Contact us via email at psd@sussex.pnn.police.uk to make a complaint about the misconduct by a person serving with the police.
If however, you wish to contact Sussex Police about any other, NON-EMERGENCY issue then please contact us online
Contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau, Racial Equality Council, Neighbourhood Warden, Youth Offending Team or Probation Service, all of whom can provide information.
Contact a solicitor or your MP and ask them to make a complaint for you.
Nominate a person to act on your behalf (they must have your written consent).
Write to the Chief Constable or Commissioner of Sussex Police:

The Chief Constable
Sussex Police Headquarters
Malling House
Church Lane
Lewes, BN7 2DZ
Contact the Independent Police Complaints Commission at:

90 High Holborn
London, WC1V 6BH
Tel: 08453 002 002

How will my complaint be dealt with?

Your initial complaint will be recorded by the Professional Standards Department (PSD) of Sussex Police. Once this has been noted as being about the conduct of the police officer or member of police staff, then it will be dealt with in one of the following ways:

Local resolution

A local manager will discuss the complaint with you and decide what action to take from the information that you have given them.

It will not result in proceedings being taken against a police officer or police staff member, but is designed to solve, explain and settle your complaint directly.

Local Investigation

A local investigation will be carried out by a police investigator assigned from PSD (they will be completely separate from the officers or staff members that are being complained about)

The Independent Police Complaints Commission has overall responsibility for the system for complaints against the police. For further information, visit the Commission's website.

What should my complaint say?

As well as your name, address and contact details, the main things that your complaint should cover are:

What happened.
When it happened.
Who was involved.
What was said or done.
Whether there were any witnesses other than yourself and the person serving with the police.
Where the witnesses can be contacted, if known.
Details of any damage or injury which took place.

If you're unhappy with the way that we have dealt with your complaint then you may be able to appeal to the IPCC. You have a right to appeal if:

Your complaint has not been recorded
You don't agree with the Local Resolution process that has been carried out
You are unhappy with the police investigation into your complaint

Complaint procedure