Make a complaint about the police

If you have had a negative experience with Cleveland Police or you wish to make a complaint, we would like to hear from you.

You can do this online by clicking the button on this page.

From 31 January 2022, Cleveland’s Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) will take responsibility for the logging and initial handling of all expressions of dissatisfaction received by Cleveland Police.

The OPCC has established a new, independent Resolution Team. The team makes sure the public and police receive a fair, transparent and customer-focussed service.

The new team aims to improve public confidence and ensure the service is easier to access with a single point of contact for those getting in touch.

The team will try to review and resolve complaints and dissatisfaction quickly fairly and to the satisfaction of the complainant.

The feedback given by members of the public during these conversations will help the force in its organisational learning. As a result, it will help to improve the service, which it offers.

When can you contact us?

You can make a complaint if you have:

• Experienced inappropriate behaviour from a police officer, staff member, contractor or volunteer
• Witnessed a police officer staff member, contractor or volunteer act inappropriately
• Been adversely affected by the conduct of a police officer. staff member, contractor or volunteer; or
• You are representing some-one, who is in one of the categories listed above, and you wish to make a complaint on their behalf. Please note, you must have their written permission, unless you are the parent or guardian of a child aged 16 or under, if you wish to complain on their behalf.

Where the team is unable to resolve a complaint to the complainant’s satisfaction, or should the complainant request it, we refer the matter to Cleveland Police’s Department for Standards and Ethics (DSE.) This is following initial contact and handling.

Matters of a more serious nature will be referred straight to the police’s DSE for formal investigation. Depending on the seriousness of the complaint, the DSE will decide whether it should be referred to the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC.)

Please let us know if you need any adjustments to support you through the complaints’ process! For example, if you have a visual impairment, you may require any written responses to be provided in larger text.

Find out what happens to your complaint after you have contacted us by clicking the Your Complaints’ Journey button!

Use of Artificial Intelligence

Your complaint does not need to be written in formal or complex language. The Resolution team want to hear about your personal experience of Cleveland Police, and the impact the service provided has had on you.

We understand that you may want to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT to help you make your complaint. We recommend caution when entering sensitive information into AI tools, as this may not always be processed securely. Remember to check any material generated by AI to ensure it is accurate.

Please do not ask AI to add features such as legal arguments or references to legislation, as this makes it harder for us to understand your complaint. In these cases, we may take longer to respond to your complaint or ask you to re-submit your complaint in your own words.

A guide to the Complaints Process for Young People

The Independent Office for Police Conduct Youth Panel created the video, below, as a guide to the police complaints system for young people.

How can you contact us?

If you are unable to use the online form, you can contact us via:

Tel: 01642 301860 (Monday to Friday, 8,30pm-4.30pm)

Email: [email protected]

Letter: Write to: Resolution Team, St Mark’s House, St Mark’s Court, Thornaby Stockton-on-Tees. TS17 6QW.