Complaints about the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC)
Complaints about the PCC are referred to Cleveland Police and Crime Panel.
The OPCC will co-operate fully with the panel in the handling of complaints, in accordance with the Panel’s policies and procedures.
Cleveland Police and Crime Panel and the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) keep details of all complaints made against the PCC.
Members of the public can discuss any concerns about the ethics and standards of the PCC or the OPCC with the Chief Executive.
You can view the policy of the Local Elected Policing Body (the panel) at the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011.
To make a complaint about the Police and Crime Comissioner please email: [email protected]
The number of complaints handled by Cleveland Police and Crime Panel during 2025-26 was five.
How do I complain about staff in the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner?
Contact details for staff complaints are as follows:
Write to us
Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner
c/o St Marks House
St Marks Court
Thornaby
Stockton-on-Tees
TS17 6QW.
Call us
Office Hours – Monday to Friday 0830-1700
Email us
There is a four-step process to resolve any complaints or issues raised.
It is important to note that the staff complaint’s procedure does not apply to complaints about Decisions
Our complaints procedure is for you to complain about the way in which the PCC’s Office operates or the conduct of the PCC’s staff. It is not to be used to challenge the merits of decisions that have been taken by the PCC or complaint/review outcomes.
Step 1
Ideally, we will try to deal with your complaint informally.
This means that preferably you should take your complaint to the person who dealt with your enquiry by phone, email or in writing. Our staff will do their best to resolve your complaint without you needing to do anything else.
If, however you do not feel comfortable contacting the person who dealt with your enquiry then you should go straight to stage 2.
Step 2
If you are not able to resolve your complaint at step one, then ask to speak to the line manager of the person you have a complaint about or leave details for the person’s line manager to contact you.
They will listen to your complaint and offer a resolution.
Step 3
If you are not satisfied with stage two or your complaint is not resolved, then you can write to the Chief Executive.
You can write to the Chief Executive at: Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, c/o St Marks House, St Marks Court, Thornaby, Stockton-On-Tees, TS17 6QW.
Please mark it clearly as a complaint against staff for the attention of the Chief Executive.
The Chief Executive is responsible for the administrative and financial arrangements and the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner. The Chief Executive will delegate your complaint to a senior member of staff for resolution.
If your complaint is about the Chief Executive, then you should address your complaint to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner at the office contact details above. Another senior member of staff will review your complaint. This will normally be the Chief Finance Officer/ Deputy Chief Executive.
If, however, you find it difficult to put the complaint in writing someone representing you can act on your behalf.
The complaint should include the nature of the complaint and, if it involves an individual, the name of that person.
You should include the circumstances of the complaint in as much detail as possible. You should also give the reasons why you are not satisfied with the way you have been dealt with.
We will respond to your complaint within 28 days of receipt. This will either be a full response or an acknowledgement telling you of the next steps in investigating your complaint.
The OPCC will give updates every 28 days until your complaint has been resolved.
Step 4
In many cases your complaint will have been dealt with before stage 4. However, if after stage 3, your complaint is not resolved then you will have a right of appeal to the Joint Independent Audit Committee.
The Committee is tasked to maintain an overview of complaints against the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner and its staff. In addition, the committee acts as the appeals body when required in its Terms of Reference
If you wish your complaint to be referred to the Joint Independent Audit Committee then you should write to the Chair of the Committee at the address/email above (within 14 days of being advised of the stage 3 decision.) You should set out why you think that your complaint is of such importance as to warrant consideration by the Committee.
The Committee’s will not make its findings public. In addition, you cannot attend or address the committee unless the committee’s chair requests that you do so.
Recommendations/guidance from the Joint Independent Audit Committee will be for guidance only and will not bind the Commissioner.
To make a complaint against the Commissioner’s staff please email: [email protected]