What is a complaint?
A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction that can cover a whole range of things from policies to behaviour. View our unreasonable behaviour policy.
The West Yorkshire Mayor has a responsibility to make sure the Police Force has an effective process in place for dealing with complaints and for monitoring their Force’s performance in relation to complaints. The Mayor does not have any powers given to them by the Government to deal with complaints about Police Officers or Police Staff; this is the responsibility of the Chief Constable.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) oversees the police complaints system in England and Wales and regularly publish data about police complaint handling and recommendations for police forces. View the latest performance reports from the IOPC.
The Mayor is, however, the ‘Appropriate Authority’ for dealing with complaints about the Chief Constable of their Police Force and they also have a responsibility for carrying out reviews of most of the complaints that have been handled by their Police Force.
Making a complaint
If you would like to make a complaint, please complete the enquiries and complaints form below or use one of the contact options listed below.
By email: policingandcrime@westyorks-ca.gov.uk
By telephone: 0113 348 1740
By post: Mayor of West Yorkshire - Policing and Crime, West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Wellington House, 40-50 Wellington Street, Leeds, LS1 2DE
Please note if you wish to request a review of a complaint that has been handled by the West Yorkshire Police Professional Standards Directorate you will need to complete the Right to a Review form which can be found further down this page.
If your complaint is about West Yorkshire Police’s policies or procedures or is about the conduct of a West Yorkshire Police Officer (other than the Chief Constable), Police Community Support Officer, Police Staff or Special Constable:
The Policing and Crime Act 2017 and supporting Regulations make significant changes to the police complaints and disciplinary systems. The legislation ensures that complaints can be dealt with at the most appropriate level and sets out who is the ‘Appropriate Authority’ to deal with complaints.
Where the complaint is about how West Yorkshire Police operates or is about a West Yorkshire Police officer or staff member, the ‘Appropriate Authority’ for dealing with the matter is the Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police. The Chief Constable has legal powers to delegate their responsibility for handling individual complaints to police officers or staff within their force and here in West Yorkshire, complaints are handled by the Professional Standards Directorate
If you send us a complaint that is about a police officer or staff member, we are required to pass it to the correct ‘Appropriate Authority’ and to tell you where we have passed it to. We do not usually need your permission to pass your complaint to the police.
If your complaint is about the personal conduct of the Chief Constable or Temporary Chief Constable:
The West Yorkshire Mayor is the ‘Appropriate Authority’ for dealing with complaints about the West Yorkshire Police Chief Constable or Temporary Chief Constable. The Mayor has delegated responsibility for making decisions in complaints and conduct matters against the Chief Constable to the Head of Policing and Crime at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
When a complaint is received, our staff will carry out an assessment of the allegation(s) and will make a decision about how it has to be dealt with.
We sometimes receive complaints about the Chief Constable when the complaint is not about their direct actions but is about actions which have been delegated to another member of the police force to carry out. Although the Chief Constable represents the police force, the Mayor (and their office) can only deal with complaints that are about the personal conduct of the Chief Constable. If it is clear that the complaint is about a police officer or police staff member, we are required to pass it to the correct ‘Appropriate Authority’ and to tell you where we have passed it to. We do not usually need your permission to pass your complaint to the police. Further explanation about this is contained in Section A.7 of the Independent Office for Police Conduct Statutory Guidance 2020.
Where a complaint is about the personal conduct of the Chief Constable, or when someone has died or suffered serious injuries following contact with the Chief Constable, we will refer the matter to the IOPC who will then determine how the complaint should be dealt with. If there is an indication that the Chief Constable might have committed a criminal offence or has behaved in a way that might result in disciplinary proceedings, the IOPC can decide how to deal with the matter. If the IOPC doesn’t consider either of these apply, the complaint will be passed back to the West Yorkshire Mayor who may delegate the responsibility for handling the complaint and you will be told how your complaint will be handled. The focus in this case would be to make sure the complaint is handled in a reasonable and proportionate manner.
Any other complaints about the Chief Constable will be brought to the attention of the Head of Policing and Crime who will decide how they should be handled. Again, the focus in this case would be to make sure the complaint is handled in a reasonable and proportionate manner.
We will contact you within 5 working days to tell you how your complaint will be dealt with.
If your complaint is about the conduct of the Mayor (or the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime) in relation to their responsibilities for policing and crime:
The West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel is responsible for recording complaints about the Mayor - when they are acting in relation to their Policing and Crime functions - and also the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime.
If your complaint is about a member of staff of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority – Policing and Crime Team:
If you are not satisfied with the service you have received from a member of our staff, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, you can complain to the Head of Policing and Crime who can deal with the complaint in person or delegate the handling of the complaint to another member of staff.
If your complaint is about the conduct of the Head of Policing and Crime you should address your concerns directly to the Strategic Director (Strategy, Communications and Policing) in the Combined Authority.
You will be contacted within 5 working days and will be told how your complaint will be dealt with. You will be informed of the outcome of any investigation and, if required, any action that has been, or will, take place.
If your complaint is about a review of West Yorkshire Police’s handling of a complaint:
The Mayor is the ‘Relevant Review Body’ for conducting reviews of most complaints that have been handled by their Police Force. In West Yorkshire, the Mayor has delegated responsibility for conducting reviews to a number of staff in the Policing and Crime Team.
If you have questions relating to decisions we have made when we have conducted a review of West Yorkshire Police’s handling of a complaint, please contact the person dealing with the review in the first instance as this is often the easiest way to explain decisions and answer questions.
You should be aware that review decisions are final and can only be challenged through a legal process so we would advise seeking independent legal advice in those circumstances. For that reason, we do not accept complaints which are about police complaint review outcomes.
If your complaint is about the conduct of a Volunteer Independent Custody Visitor (ICV):
The people who volunteer to make unannounced visits to detainees in police custody to ensure their rights, entitlements and wellbeing needs are being met by West Yorkshire Police aim to provide a scheme which is transparent and fair. However, if you are not satisfied with the interaction or feel you have been treated unprofessionally you can complain to our ICV Scheme Manager.
You will contacted within 5 working days and will be told how your complaint will be dealt with and will be informed of the outcome of any investigation and, if required, any action that has been, or will, take place.
Reviews
