Explains when you may have contact with the police, what happens if you are arrested and what your rights are if you are taken to the police station.
View this information as a PDF (new window)
If you are unhappy with the way the police treated you, you can:
You should report your concerns within 12 months of the incident. However if you think you’ve been discriminated against you may have to bring a claim within 6 months of the incident (for more information see our legal pages on disability discrimination).
Most complaints will be dealt with by the local police force. You can complain:
However, serious complaints will be referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) (formerly called the the Independent Police Complaints Commission).
If you are not happy with the outcome, you will be told about how you can appeal the decision.
This information was published in November 2017.
This page is currently under review. All content was accurate when published.
References are available on request. If you would like to reproduce any of this information, see our page on permissions and licensing.