The police and courts attempt to operate efficiently, but there may be incidents where you believe that you have been treated unfairly. In these cases you are completely within your legal rights to to make a complaint. The justice system we have is based in fairness. The law requires that defendants can usually appeal a court decision, and that citizens complaining about the court that has dealt with their case or the police are given a fair hearing.
If you've had a negative experience during an arrest or police questioning, you can better understand what should have happened by checking our free Rights on Arrest Checker.
How to Complain About the Police
There is an independent body called the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). This was set-up by central government to give the public a mechanism by which they could make complaints against the police. Each police force has its own complaints team that deal specifically with complaints directed at their officers.
Complaints about the police can range from minor offenses such as the use of excessive force during an arrest, to more serious complaints such as racism, or the death of a suspect in custody. The police are governed by a Code of Practice that gives them guidelines on how to behave and carry out their duties. You can see a copy of this code at your local library. It’s a good idea to familiarise yourself with the code before you make a complaint.
Note that you should make your complaint within 12 months of the incident you are complaining about. Also, any serious incidents will have to go to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) for consideration. If you have a complaint and live in England and Wales you make your complaint about the police in a number of ways. These include:
- By contacted the police force directly
- Via your solicitor or other legal representative
- With the help of your local MP
- With the help of the Citizens Advice Bureau
If you live in Scotland you should direct your complaint to the chief constable of the police force concerned. If the incident is serious and involved an officer breaking the law, your complaint should be directed to the Procurator Fiscal Service as this is the same as the CPS in England and Wales. And if you are in Northern Ireland, contact the Police Ombudsman.
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If you feel that the court handling your case hasn’t done so professionally, and you haven’t received proper justice in your case, you can make a complaint directly with the court by contacting a member of the court staff either in person or via phone. You may want to make your complain more formal and in writing. If this is the case you need to complete form EX343A. You can download the form from the HMCTS website. You should receive a reply about your complaint within 5 working days. When you make your complaint ensure that:
- You describe all the facts relating to your complaint in as much detail as possible
- Clearly explain why you think the court made a mistake with your case
- What loss (if any) you have suffered as a consequence of the mistake or conduct of the court
If you are making a complaint about a specific member of court staff, and feel you have made a loss, you may be able to claim compensation. This will depend on the nature of your complaint.
Any complaint you make will be investigated and a decision made about any action to be taken. If you disagree with the outcome of your complaint, you can ask the Area Director to further consider your complaint. And if you are still not satisfied with the Area Director’s decision about your complaint, you can contact the Customer Service Unit by telephone on: 0845 4568770 or 020 7189 2000. Disability Helpline/Textphone: Freephone 0800 358 3506.
If after going through this procedure you still believe your complaint hasn’t been dealt with properly, you can contact the The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. You can’t contact this service directly, but your MP can help you make contact with them.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
How to Complain About a Judge or Judicial Decision
After the court case you are involved with has finished and you feel that your case wasn’t dealt with properly under the law, or that the presiding judge didn’t perform their duties in accordance with the law, you can make an appeal. Appeals can be effective, but take legal advice before you proceed with your complaint. All appeals need to be made quickly and directly to the court where your case was heard.
Making complaints about specific judges will mean contacting the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO). You can telephone them on: 020 3334 2555, or visit their website
Complaining about a magistrate will mean you have to contact the local Advisory Committee. The court where you case was heard can give you their contact details. If you are not happy with their decision, you can then take your complaint to the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO).
My dad met this woman in the pub and that's all we know about her, they never lived together and he's my full time carer as well as a pensionor. I really don't know how some stranger is able to do this to our family and get away with it. She even admitted she doesnt know when his birthday is or how old he is, but the police are pushing for the conviction of a decent hardworking pensionor who they know is innocent. They applied to magistrates court to extend the bail due to this woman being terrified for her life. My dad has no previous convictions of violence and his four adult children has never witnessed him ever being abusive to our mum or to us growing up. How can this be allowed, this woman being able to wreck someones life in a revenge bid, even with solid evidence that shes lying? How can this be happening to an innocent person?? Please explain because i dont understand how this woman is gettingaway with what shes doing to us?
I was legal with car tax insurance MOT clean driving licence I'm 57 too
I now have no car insurance now and can't get any because Hastings court put someone else's convictions on my driving licence making me disqualified from driving and admiral car insurance not getting renewed because of two MS90,s and one TT99
Through this mistake I have suffered mentally and physically not being able to get food bank get to doctors or attend lymphoedema appointments washing facilities for bathing and clothes
All contact has been made to single justice service, DVLA and enforcement fines email's have been sent but DVLA has recognised two of the convictions are not in my name
How do I prosecute the court for this damaging mistake
This went on for over 2 1/2 years how can the police and cps lie just to get a conviction now I have to live with this for the rest of my life.
Firstly this is a historic case.
In 1985 the police failed to charge and prosecute a man of serious sexual crimes, they failed by not carrying out a proper investigation, and failed to find his historic charges of attempted murder, and other crimes committed.
In 1993 the case was re opened due to the submission of new evidence.
The CID officer in charge of the case and investigations in 1993 could not understand why charges were not brought in the first instance in 1985, and no charges brought at that time, as there was so much evidence to prove this man committed theses sexual crimes.
The case was taken to court in 1993, however the CPS failed to inform the CID officer and the claimant that it was a trial hearing, and they were both told by the CPS that the court date was not for a hearing or trial but for a later date to be set for the trial and hearing, so no one had to attend.
This information was wrong, and in fact it was a trial hearing.
As the CID officer and the claimant weren’t in court, the accused defence, claimed that the police were withholding evidence that they had requested, claiming that this could prove her client was innocent, and claimed an abuse of process, and the case was dismissed.
However the evidence the defendants solicitor was referring to were files that TO DATE are still missing and believed to be part of a cover up of failings by a GP who failed to report serious safeguarding concerns and also social service's for their failings.
However as the CPS gave the wrong information about the court hearing, the CID officer and the claimant weren’t in court, and there was no one in court to inform the court of this, resulting in the case being dismissed, as an abuse of process.
Directly after the case was dismissed the claimant was informed, she rightfully felt let down by the CPS for their failings in informing her and the police that it was indeed a trial hearing and that there was no one in court to explain about the missing files and the provable cover up leading to theses files being missing and the reason for this concussion. She asked it there was anything she could do or any governing body she could raise this concern and complaint about the CPS to and she was told there wasn’t, and it was left.
However now with the common access of the internet this is something that still bothers me, so I’m putting this out there, is there something or some governing body that you can complain to, about mistreatment by the CPS and their failings in such a case? Also going back to 1985 the failings of the police to investigate a case and taking action at that time, even though there was a body of evidence available, they failed to investigate and bring charges when they should have. This injustice is something I have had to live with but feel that this is so unfair, and watched as a serious perpetrator and sexual predator who stole my life,and committed countless crimes against me over many
I sent the court another email today. I received a reply telling me my case had not gone in front of a judge and thanked me for my patience.
I replied asking the court to explain, showing the email they had sent me on 7th February.
I have had no reply.
I have a dentist in court who I have paid an Expert to fail, he saw haf my bone in my jaw missing but told the technician (not a clinician) that my bone and implants were sound. They were not. I am needing an operation, I cannot eat solid food. I am 72 this year. The court is aware of this. What on earth can I do? How much longer do I have to wait, it feels like forever and I will never eat a proper meal again.
This is not justice it's criminal.
Don’t know if I’m in the right place.
My OH is standing trial for murder and possession of a firearm with intent.
The court have heard that he was not involved in the planning and that the forearm he has was not involved in the murder.
New evidence has come to light that proves other people could have been involved and carried out this act. Yet the police won’t allow the evidence to be read in court.
This is evidence that proves my partners innocence.
Police have neglected to show other evidence that also show his innocence by taking out vital parts of messages to change how they come across.
They have also stated they had the evidence on the other people but they have destroyed it !
?????
2. The actual damage started on 24 February 2014 when the applicant’s Tier 4 student application was unlawfully refused by the Secretary of the state by failing to comply Tier 4 policy guidelines (2014-2016), as a result he lost Section 3C Leave to remain and became jobless and destitute. Afterward the litigation operations acknowledge this unlawful refusal and pledged that a new decision will be made, (which never happened). The secretary of the state did not stopped her, but on October 2016 she falsely accused the applicant for submitting a fraudulent TOIEC Certificate. In 2017 she again accused him for this forged TOIEC submission without release any burden of proof. The applicant never submitted any fraudulent certificate and was not required to do so as he was holding a UK Master’s degree. This false accusation prevented the applicant to obtain new CAS from the Swansea University. In September 2017 the Swansea University again granted him an offer letter but that offer letter also rejected by the Secretary of the state on basis of 24 February 2014 refusal, unfortunately despite that it was accepted that the February 2014 Refusal will be reconsidered. This show the series of misconducts was carried out deliberately so that the applicant cannot obtain a new CAS. This is a discrimination and prejudices and victimisation it did not stop her, the British judges concealed these material facts and favoured the Home department. To refuse the applicant’s appeal applications.
3. On 31 March 2017 he sent a request letter to the secretary of the state for extension of time to obtain a necessary CAS,( information was sent via FLR (O) attached with a reasoned/supporting cover letter requesting the secretary of the state for extension of time to obtain necessary CAS). It was not a human rights application or the applicant was not intended to vary his outstanding Tier 4 student application. This is confirmed by the Home Office SAR record 2019. The Home Office case worker initially accepted this request and granted 45 days of extension until 24 May 2017, however, on 31 May 2017 the secretary of the state made two ambiguous claims. The initial claim was made on 31 May 2017 that it a human right application on private life and was finally refused under paragraph 353. However, no such reference was made on this request letter. This was challenged in the Upper Tribunal through PAP. On 26 Sept 2019, the Secretary of the state in her Acknowledge of services letter made another ambiguous claim that it is a human rights claim basis of medical grounds and ill health. These manipulated and fabricated decisions were supported by the British Judges without any reexaminations, or any adequate redress, unfortunately. Thus the migrant applicant was not treated fairly.
4. There is no alternative effective remedy available to the applicant, and the circumstances are exceptional in this case because he has been trea
At the hearing l was treated like the defendant. It was clear that the Judge had made his mind up before the case started. At the end of the case he went straight into the summing up and made the Judgement against me. It made no difference what l said, The defendant was untruthful and the Judge knew it. It was a waste of time and money, farcical.
I was defrauded out of £450,000 and with other mis-management claims the total loss I incurred was £575,000.
The situation went before an arbitrator and all Irwin Mitchell offered as compensation was £80,000. My Barrister managed to get that amount increased to £350,000.
So I ended up £225,000 out of pocket.
Why should I end up £225,000 out of pocket due to the mis-management of a Court of Protection Deputy. The whole point of placing my money in the hands of The Court of Protection was to protect it.
Why can't I claim the £225,000 directly from The Court of Protection? I am not at all happy about the situation.
Long story very short - he made my life hell for a year. I have suspicion that he had me take on the business for his financial gain with the goal of making me give up my position - he could then come back and take over again without having to pay back the six figure sum he received. When his attempts of causing financial stress failed, and his attempts of bullying and victimisation failed, and his onslaught of various forms of harassment failed; he ended my tenancy agreement and kicked me out.
I knew this would happen and already organised with the company to move me. But i had to pay a portion of the move.
So I began the process of seeking damages through a civil hearing listing 26 allegations which go against the protection from harassment act.
The first sheriff said I had a case and proceeded with it. There were 3 case management meetings and two deferred dates.
Then lockdown kicked us in the booty and 2 years after me having him served, another sheriff is now making me drop the case saying that my extensive list of allegations is "laughable" and wouldn't amount to harassment of any sort.
This guy literally thinks that it's okay for a 65 year old to grab his 30 year old boss'/tenant's backside and ask guys what my nails feel like on their back.
What's worse us that the cretin is now suing me for his 2 years of solicitor fees.
How is it fair in any world that the sheriff makes somebody drop a case without giving them their fair hearing, after TWO YEARS, and then expects them to pay the other party's fees??
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