The information below aims to help direct you to the correct organisation if you wish to make a complaint about policing in Scotland. If you are unclear about who to complain to, please use the Complaints Form below to contact us for advice.
Police Scotland:
Police Scotland is responsible for handling complaints about:
- Police Scotland itself (for example quality of service received, policies or procedures)
- Chief Superintendent
- Superintendent
- Chief Inspector
- Inspector
- Sergeant
- Constable
- Special Constable
- Police Staff working for Police Scotland
If you have a complaint about any of the above, please contact Police Scotland. The Authority cannot consider any complaints about these matters.
Scottish Police Authority:
We are responsible for handling complaints about:
- A Board member of the Authority
- A staff member of the Authority (including Forensic Services staff)
- The Authority itself (for example quality of service, policies or procedures)
- Assistant Chief Constable
- Deputy Chief Constable
- Chief Constable
If you have a complaint about any of the above, we encourage you to fill out the Complaints Form below.
Police Investigations and Review Commissioner (PIRC):
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your complaint, you can contact the PIRC, an independent organisation not connected to the police or the Authority, to request that your complaint is reviewed. You can find out more on the PIRC below:
Details of how to contact PIRC can be found in the Complaints Process.
Alternatively, you can visit www.pirc.scot
How to make a complaint to the SPA
SPA Complaints Process
If your complaint is for the Authority to deal with, our complaints process tells you how it will be considered, including what to do if you are not satisfied with how your complaint has been handled.
