Complaints process
The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) for Avon and Somerset takes complaints very seriously as the service we provide should be professional, effective and efficient.
We recognise that there will be times when people feel dissatisfied with the service they have received.
This may be because of a particular incident in which they are involved, a policy decision about the policing of their neighbourhood or the conduct of a particular person employed by the police or the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
What complaints do we deal with?
The OPCC deals with:
- Complaints against the PCC and Deputy PCC
- Complaints against the Chief Constable
- Complaints against an OPCC staff member or volunteer
If you wish to complain about a police officer below the rank of Chief Constable or policing services, you should follow Avon and Somerset Police’s complaints process.
How do we deal with complaints?
We review every complaint in detail to understand what happened so we can take the appropriate action to resolve the issue.
For more information, read the how to make a complaint about the police (PDF) provided by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Learning from your feedback
The handling of complaints provides one of the most valuable feedback mechanisms for us.
We have a commitment to learn, whether from individual complaints or from broader analysis of the type of complaints received by the police and the OPCC. We regularly share learnings both internally and externally to improve the service we provide to our local communities.
Our priorities are getting it right and if we fail we aim to improve our services by being:
- person-focused
- open and accountable
- acting fairly and proportionately
- seeking continuous improvement.
Making a complaint
You can make a complaint:
- Against the PCC and Deputy PCC.
- Against the Chief Constable.
- Against a OPCC staff member or volunteer.